2. Congregation Histories : Minnesota

St. Paul

Unity Church of St. Paul

The first record of Unitarianism in St. Paul bears the date of June 1852, when the Rev. George Woodward of Galena, Illinois, journeyed up the Mississippi River and held a service in the hall of the Sons of Temperance. There is no further mention of Unitarians until December, 1858, when Frederick Hewell, formerly a Unitarian minister in Boston, and now owner of a feed store in St. Paul, agreed to conduct services if he could use his old sermons. In 1859, lack of funds forced the group to disband and for the next six years services were held only on the rare occasions that a minister was sent West by the Unitarian Association in an effort to keep this and other groups going.

The year 1872 marks the first step in the real organization of a Unitarian church. A subscription was taken to maintain a minister for one year. John Effinger came from Keokuk, Iowa, and preached his first sermon on Feb. 11, l872, and the date that has been adopted as the actual birthdate of Unity Church. Two weeks later, 50 members signed Articles of Association and the next year saw the official incorporation of “Unity Church.” In 1875, the now fast growing membership took a big step, moved into the vacant Universalist Church, and paid $1,000 yearly rent for the luxuries of a “pleasant church and softly cushioned pews.” Ill health forced Mr. Effinger, a highly respected minister, to resign in 1876, and Sunday services ceased.

William Channing Gannett, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, arrived from Boston in 1877. By this time the congregation numbered about 150 and there were 70 children in the church school. The Unitarians now dreamed of their own church—they chose a site and an architect, and asked to have the church look like a “church home.” The opening service in the new “Queen Anne” cottage-style building was held on April 15, 1883. Mr. Gannett resigned that summer, and was replaced by Mr. Clay McCauley of St. Paul, who stayed for only one year. In 1886, the trustees invited Mr. Crothers from Brattleboro, VT to be their minister, a post he held for over seven years. He was a noted and much-respected minister. Following his resignation in 1894 came the short pastorates of William Lord (1895–97) and Clarence Diven (1898–1900). Richard Boynton came in 1900. In 1902, the congregation felt a new church in a new location, “up the hill,” was advisable and plans were underway. Unity Church, at its present site at Portland and Grotto, was dedicated on December 10, 1905. After Mr. Boynton’s resignation in 1907, John Reid came from Greenfield, MS [MA?] and stayed until 1917.

Frederick May Eliot came from Cambridge, MA in 1917, where he shared the pulpit with Mr. Crothers. His ministry lasted for 20 years. The church grew steadily in this period and the Parish Hall and the Ames Chapel were added to the building. Mr. Eliot left Unity Church in 1937 to become president of the American Unitarian Association in Boston.

Wallace W. Robbins succeeded Mr. Eliot and was our minister from 1938–1944, when he resigned to take office as President of Meadville Theological School in Chicago. He still occasionally returns to Unity Church as a guest preacher.

Our minister emeritus, Arthur Foote, came to Unity Church from a parish in Stockton, CA and served as our senior minister for 25 years. During his ministry, the church and church school grew steadily, and in 1957, a new wing was added as a memorial to Frederick Eliot. A disastrous fire in 1963 gutted the main church, but the successful reconstruction has given us a handsome and modern structure. The restored building was dedicated in January 1965. In addition, during this time Unity Church gave significant financial support to establish a “branch church” in White Bear Lake. Frederick Rutledge served as an Associate Minister from 1966–1970.

Our present minister, Roy D. Phillips, came to Unity Church in May 1971. He is a graduate of Boston University and of Meadville Theological School and came to us from the UU Church of Racine and Kenosha, WI. During his ministry, there has been significant growth in membership and the church school as well as in program. A capital campaign has secured funds for building renovation and further expansion of the facilities, to house a growing congregation and staff, and to provide additional meeting space and classroom area.

(Author not noted)

This history has been updated.