In 1932 a group of individuals gathered in downtown Orlando to hear about a new spiritual movement that had begun in the Midwest. That spiritual movement was Unity, and it attracted the attention of a young member of the group in Orlando named Carolyn Hightower.

Hightower had heard the healing story of a young woman—Myrtle Fillmore—who had suffered from tuberculosis most of her life and was not expected to survive. After attending a New Thought lecture in 1886, Fillmore came away with one statement that changed her life: I am a child of God, and therefore I do not inherit sickness. Through affirmative prayer, Fillmore healed her body. Word of her healing spread, and she and her husband, Charles Fillmore, began receiving prayer requests from far and wide. Together the Fillmores created Unity.

The Founding of a Church
Hightower, born in 1893 and a descendant of one of the first 500 European families the United States, was also afflicted with a life-threatening childhood illness. Intrigued with Fillmore's affirmative prayers for healing, Hightower embarked upon the same path, eventually achieving her own healing. She later assumed the helm of the Orlando study group, nurturing it into a robust spiritual community—one that continues to be a cornerstone of spirituality in Orlando.

Hightower was a pioneer of her time. She studied psychology and philosophy, earned a doctorate degree and was an accomplished artist. In 1932 she met Charles Fillmore and embarked on a journey of spiritual education.

At a time when it was uncommon for women to become ministers, Hightower not only became an ordained Unity minister in 1938, but also went on to found the Unity Center of Orlando in 1942.

Set in a beautiful building in downtown Orlando, the church embodied Hightower's vision of a spiritual community dedicated to sharing principles based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. The church was renamed Christ Church Unity-Orlando in 1953 and thrived for decades under Hightower's leadership. After retiring in 1978, Hightower lived to be 101.

Focusing on the Future
Although the church relocated in 1992 to allow for more congregant growth, Hightower's vision for the spiritual community remains steadfast. Another dedicated female minister, Rev. Alice Anderson, now leads the spiritual community. Anderson says the church is excited about their mission of “transforming lives, celebrating diversity and supporting soul growth.”

At present, the church serves close to 500 on-site congregants each week. Anderson notes, “We just expanded our Sunday morning seating to the chapel and have provided a TV monitor and excellent sound so people can be close to the worship service and feel the energy, even though there isn't room for everyone in the pews.” In addition, the church provides webcasts of their weekly services online.

Future plans for the church include a possible expansion of the facility, staff additions, enhanced class offerings and more community-based events. 

Spirit in Action
Anderson is grateful for the energy in her church community. “We have experienced very rapid growth in the last year and a half. We have such great forward motion going on,” she says. “All we do is grounded in consciousness and we are giving thanks for all the good we are receiving. We are looking for ways to share that good with the community, nation and the world.”

One way the congregation is reaching out is through social action teams created to address community needs. The church has a Green Team, Peace Team, Diversity Team and an Outreach Team. Anderson is proud of the work each team is doing. “All of our vibrant groups are doing many events during the year. Each has an excellent leader with a passion for their work.” 

“Our vision going forward is to create heaven on earth (by) honoring the sacredness of each individual and making a space for each one,” says Anderson. “We are really growing, but heaven on earth is no small plan. Many lives have been touched by our outreach, and we hope that it continues to be a blessing to the community.”

To view the Christ Church Unity-Orlando 70th Anniversary celebration video, click here.

For more information about Christ Church Unity-Orlando or to download a podcast, click here.

Photo Caption:
The Sanctuary at Christ Church Unity-Orlando
(Photo courtesy of Mary Hayes Photography)