Shop Amazon
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide USA

Unity School of Christianity Historic District

  • Vicinity: Jct US 50 and Colborn Rd
  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Historic District

The Unity School of Christianity Historic District, Unity Village, Missouri, is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C and is significant in the area of ARCHITECTURE as a fine, and in the Kansas City area, unusual example of the Italian Renaissance design tradition. It is eligible under Criteria Consideration A due to its architectural distinction. Designed by the Kansas City architectural firm, Boillot and Lauck, and built in 1927-30.

The two buildings and the surrounding landscape which make up the district, were envisioned as a new home for the world headquarters of the Unity School of Christianity. The Unity movement, a New Thought religious body, was founded by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore in Kansas City, Missouri in 1889.

Designed for both symbolic and utilitarian purposes, Silent Unity (a prayer facility-office building) and Unity Tower (a water tower-office building) possess many of the distinctive formal design characteristics of the Italian Renaissance style: symmetrical elevations, low red-tile hip roofs, balustrades, pillars, colonnades, arched fenestration, smooth wall surfaces, rusticated quoins, and the appearance of Travertine, a beige-colored stone building material popular in Italy (in actuality, Jackson County limestone). Linking the two buildings, a formally designed landscape reinforces the Italian Renaissance design concept, in striking contrast to the district's rural pastoral setting on the outskirts of Kansas City. - NRHP, 15 June 2008


Search Amazon for:

Unity School of Christianity Historic District
Advertisement

Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1927/00/00 Myrtle Fillmore Vocation Silent Unity, a combination prayer facility-office building situated to the east of Unity Tower, is designed in the Italian Renaissance tradition by Boillot and Lauck.
1927/00/00 Boillot and Lauck Architect Silent Unity, a combination prayer facility-office building situated to the east of Unity Tower, is designed in the Italian Renaissance tradition by Boillot and Lauck.
1927/00/00 Boillot and Lauck Architect Unity Tower, a 150 foot reinforced-concrete structure, is designed by the Kansas City architectural firm of Boillot and Lauck.

Data »

Particulars for Unity School of Christianity Historic District:
Area of Significance Architecture
Criteria Architecture-Engineering
Sight Category Historic District
Art Movement Italian Renaissance Revival
Historic Use Organizational
Historic Use Plaza
Owner Private
Historic Use Religious Property
Architectural Style Renaissance Revival
Historic Use Water Works
Historic Use Work of Art



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration:

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name:
Registry Address:
Registry Number: 89000246
Resource Type:
Owner: Private
Architect: Boillot,Elmer; Lauck,Jesse F.
Architectural Style: Renaissance, Other
Attribute: Italian Renaissance
Other Certification: Date received-pending nomination
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: Local
Area of Significance: Architecture
Applicable Criteria: Architecture-Engineering
Criteria Consideration: Religious property
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Significant Year: 1927
Historic Function: Religion, Landscape, Industry, processing, extraction, Recreation and Culture, Commerce, Trade
Historic Sub-Function: Work of art (sculpture, carving, rock art), Religious structure, Water works, Organizational, Plaza
Current Function: Recreation and Culture, Religion, Commerce, Trade, Landscape, Industry, processing, extraction
Current Sub-Function: Organizational Religious structure Water works Work of art (sculpture, carving, rock art) Plaza

History »

Background Co-founded by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, Unity, a worldwide movement aimed at practical Christianity, was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1889. In 1886, the Fillmores had attended a New Thought lecture given by Dr E B Weeks in Kansas City. New Thought or Metaphysical religion stems from the work of Phineas Parkhurst Quimby (1802-1866), a clock maker from Belfast, Maine, who became intrigued by the therapeutic power of mental healing. Disciples of Quimby's teachings included Mary Barker Eddy (1821-1910), the founder of Christian Science, and Warren Felt Evans (1817-1889), a Swedenborgian and author of six books on intuitive perception and mental science. Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, third generation leaders of the New Thought-Metanhysical school discovered the power of positive thinking and they, too, "advertised themselves as Healers and Teachers." In 1889, they launched the periodical Modern Thought, publicizing their views and one year later formed the Society of Silent Help, a silent prayer group. In 1891, Charles Fillmore coined the term "Unity"; and the name of the prayer group was changed to the Society of Silent Unity. Published by Unity Book Company, later renamed the Unity Tract Society, Unity magazine was established as a special organ for the prayer group. 6 In 1914, the Society of Silent Unity and the Unity Tract Society were incorporated as the Unity School of Christianity with a membership of more than 25,000.

According to Winthrope S Hudson's book Religion in America, the Fillmores denied that they were starting a new sect, "they were only teaching a practical philosophy to supplement the teachings of the existing churches." Although Unity beliefs are based on the philosophy of the Fillmores and other Unity leaders, there is no creed. As Unity grew, demands for more instruction made it necessary to begin a correspondence course in 1909. Later in 1925, the Unity Annual Conference was formed to insure that the growing number of Unity centers could adequately teach the Fillmores ideas. Today, the Unity movement has grown into "one of the largest religious centers in the country specializing in mail order service and summer conferences." Several periodicals, Unity, Daily World, and Wee Wisdom, are circulated beyond the membership and Unity Radio broadcasts "The Word." a short meditation that can be hard over numerous stations, coast-to-coast.


Shopping on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Google Ad

Google Ad
?