Unity Church History
Historical Overview
Early Beginnings (1852-1872)
The first record of Unitarianism in St. Paul dates to 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. The next mention of Unitarians in the region was in 1858, when Frederick R. Newell, formerly a Unitarian minister in Boston who became the owner of a feed store in St. Paul, agreed to conduct services if he could use his old sermons. Lack of funds forced the group to disband in 1859. For the next several years there were few services held because very few ministers ventured this far west unless the American Unitarian Association sent them to support fledging congregations.
Establishment and First Growth (1872-1876)
John R. Effinger came from Keokuk, Iowa, and preached his first sermon on February 11, l872. Two weeks later, on February 25, 1872, fifty members signed Articles of Association, and the next year saw the official incorporation of “Unity Church of St. Paul.” In 1875, the now fast-growing membership moved into the vacant Universalist Church. They paid $1,000 yearly rent for the use of a “pleasant church and softly cushioned pews.” Ill health forced Mr. Effinger to resign in 1876, and Sunday services ceased.
The Gannett Era and First Church Building (1877-1884)
William Channing Gannett, an ardent abolitionist and supporter of women’s suffrage, arrived from Boston in 1877 for a three-month trial. By this time, the congregation numbered about 150 adults and seventy children in the church school. In 1879, after two years as minister, Mr. Gannett asked to be ordained. On that occasion he read his “bond of fellowship,” and eighty-four members of the congregation signed it. That bond is still recited as part of the Ingathering service for new members, with one small change: replacing the word “brotherhood” with the more inclusive “community.”
The Unitarians now felt secure enough to build their own church. They chose a site in downtown St. Paul and Mr. Gannett collaborated with the architect to design a two-story “church home.” In January 1882, they moved into the still-unfinished building. The congregation held the official opening service in the Queen Anne cottage-style building on April 15, 1883. The following summer, Mr. Gannett resigned to do “some other things,” and because he thought it was time for Unity Church to have a new minister.
Ministers of the Late 19th Century (1884-1900)
Mr. Clay MacCauley replaced Mr. Gannett and served from 1884–1886. He was a Civil War veteran who found his way to Unitarianism. He brought Unity prominent public notice through advertisements and speaking engagements. However, some members were unhappy with his emphasis on public ministry instead of ministering primarily to church members. Mr. MacCauley resigned to avoid causing division in the congregation. He later went on to head the Unitarian Mission in Japan.
In 1886, the trustees invited Mr. Samuel McChord Crothers from Brattleboro, Vermont, to be their minister, a post he held for over seven years. In addition to being a much-respected minister, Crothers was well known as the author of gentle, humorous essays that often appeared in the Atlantic Monthly. Under Mr. Crothers, the St. Paul Unitarians began taking a wider interest in their Minnesota Unitarian neighbors. The Minnesota Unitarian Conference was organized and held its first meeting in 1888 with delegates from St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, Winona, St. Cloud, Luverne, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Alma, Wisconsin. In 1894, Mr. Crothers resigned to become the minister of First Parish Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
After a period of inviting guest ministers to preach, Unity called William Rogers Lord of Boston in February 1895. His ministry at Unity Church was short-lived. In his letter of resignation, dated October 3, 1897, Mr. Lord writes that “St. Paul has but one liberal church, and that church should be strong. … It is clear to me that I am not the man to bring about these results.” Lord is best known for his interest in ornithology, sparked during his ministry at First Unitarian church in Portland, Oregon, from 1899–1901.
In October 1898, the congregation called Clarence Leslie Diven of Connecticut. He started ministry as a Trinitarian Congregationalist, then became Unitarian, and soon after came to Unity Church. There were great hopes for his ministry, but he became ill in late 1899 and died in January 1900.
A New Century and a New Location (1900-1917)
Richard Wilson Boynton came to St. Paul from Roslindale, Massachusetts, in the fall of 1900. In 1902, the congregation felt it needed a new church in a new location. Although the Queen Anne building was still adequate, the neighborhood was becoming more commercial. As a result, residents were moving out of the downtown area, and their churches were following them. A new Unity Church, at its present site at Portland and Grotto, was dedicated on December 10,1905. Because of health problems, Mr. Boynton resigned in 1907 to try a milder climate. He served other Unitarian churches before becoming a professor of philosophy at the University of Buffalo, New York, where he taught for 37 years.
Mr. Boynton’s successor was John Dumont Reid, who originally served Congregationalist churches before moving to Unitarianism. He served in Greenfield, Massachusetts, before coming to St. Paul in 1908. Mr. Reid found the demands of parish administration not to his liking. The result was a severe decline in membership and attendance. Mr. Reid resigned in early 1917 and subsequently served mostly interim positions.
The Eliot Years (1917-1937)
Frederick May Eliot preached his first sermon in St. Paul in January 1917 and made a strong impression on the congregation. Mr. Eliot came from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he worked with Mr. Crothers. Beginning in August 1918, he served as a military chaplain at a hospital unit in France during World War I, returning to St. Paul in April 1919. The church grew steadily during his 20-year ministry, as did the building with the addition of the Parish Hall and the Ames Chapel. He introduced programs for young people, including the Tower Club for high-school age youth, which is still active.
Mr. Eliot was active in the community, serving on the founding board of the Twin Cities Urban League and the boards of several service agencies. Mr. Eliot resigned in 1937 to become president of the American Unitarian Association in Boston and served until his death in 1958.
Innovation in Ministry Selection and the Robbins Era (1937-1944)
The search for Mr. Eliot’s successor led to a new approach to selecting ministers. Previously, multiple candidates took turns preaching at the church. After all the candidates’ visits, the congregation would make their final choice. The new approach authorized a committee to search for a suitable candidate, who then spent a week at Unity Church, after which the congregation would vote yes or no. Other Unitarian churches adopted this method, which continues to be the way most Unitarian Universalists select ministers.
The result of this search was Wallace W. Robbins, who came from a parish in Alton, Illinois, and was highly recommended by Mr. Eliot. Mr. Robbins was particularly good with young people, and the topics discussed in the Tower Club made it a popular program. He experimented with an additional service on Wednesday evenings and maintained the practice of twice-yearly communion services, a pattern set by Mr. Eliot. He also became involved with the Urban League, helping to raise awareness of the racial problems in St. Paul. Despite the challenges presented by the Depression and World War II, the congregation developed creative ways to remain viable. In 1944, Mr. Robbins resigned to take office as president of Meadville Theological School in Chicago.
The Foote Era: Growth and Challenges (1945-1970)
Arthur Foote II came to Unity Church from a parish in Stockton, California. Installed in October 1945, Mr. Foote would serve until 1970, when he retired from the ministry. The 1950s were a time of rapid growth. Rather than move, the congregation chose to support the establishment of a “branch church.” Ronald J. Walrath, the assistant minister from 1955–1959, helped with organizing a second church in Mahtomedi, for which Unity Church gave significant financial support.
In 1957, a new wing was added for offices and classroom space and named in honor of Frederick Eliot. In response to a request from Meadville Theological School, Unity provided ministerial internships starting in 1960. The total Sunday attendance, including church school children, averaged six hundred people.
Mr. Foote was very involved in the larger community, including leading an effort to reform the mental health system in Minnesota. Frederick Rutledge served as an associate minister from 1966-1970. A fire in 1963 gutted the main church, but the successful reconstruction resulted in a light-filled modern structure and the addition of a tracker organ. The restored building was dedicated in January 1965.
Phillips Ministry and New Approaches (1971-1999)
Roy D. Phillips came to Unity Church in May 1971 from the UU Church of Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin. His ministry brought significant growth in membership, the addition of a second Sunday service, and a new approach to religious education. In the late 1980s, a capital campaign secured funds for building renovation and expansion of the facilities, adding a second floor to the Eliot Wing to provide additional meeting space and a classroom area.
In the late 1990s, the board moved to Policy Governance. The system clarified the authority and accountability of the board and the minister, and the relationship between them, so each could best contribute to advancing the church’s mission and ends.
Gretchen Thompson joined as a second minister and served from 1995–1998. She resigned in the fall of 1998, followed by the retirement in December of Mr. Phillips. Kathy Fuson Hurt was the “pre-interim” minister from March to August 1999, followed by the one-year interim ministry of Davidson Loehr, who went on to serve a church in Austin, Texas.
Co-Ministry and Contemporary Mission (2000-2021)
After a year of discernment and search, the congregation called Rob and Janne Eller-Isaacs as co-ministers. They had previously served the First Unitarian Church in Oakland, California, for eighteen years. They introduced pilgrimage opportunities, the worship associate program, community outreach teams, and started a mid-week “church night,” with dinner and programs. In 2006 “Giving away the plate” began, with a portion of the Sunday offering donated to a community group with shared values. Undergirding all their efforts was the desire to develop an antiracist spirit within the congregation.
Growth in the use of the church spaces revealed the need for building updates focusing on improved infrastructure, reduced energy use, and new program needs. In 2012-2013, the building underwent significant renovations following a successful capital campaign.
The Eller-Isaacs retired in 2021, having spent the last year of their ministry navigating the COVID pandemic with a strong pivot to online ministry. Sadly, they both died within a few years and were never able to enjoy their retirement.
Time of Transition, New Settled Minister (2021-2024)
Rev. Kathy Fuson-Hurt served a one-year interim ministry while a search for a new minister took place. When this search failed to identify a new settled minister acceptable to the congregation, Rev. Kathleen Rolenz took on a two-year ministry to prepare the congregation for its next search.
In May 2024, the ministerial search team successfully presented Rev. Dr. Oscar Sinclair as the candidate for the next senior minister. He was installed by the congregation in April 2025. Previously, Mr. Sinclair served for seven years as the senior minister of the Unitarian church in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Mr. Sinclair was in the Peace Corps and was active in his home church in Baltimore, serving as a worship associate and on the Board of Trustees. He attended Wesley Theological Seminary where he received his doctorate in 2023. During his ministry in Lincoln, Nebraska, he was active in justice issues.
The first record of Unitarianism in St. Paul dates to 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. The next mention of Unitarians in the region was in 1858, when Frederick R. Newell, formerly a Unitarian minister in Boston who became the owner of a feed store in St. Paul, agreed to conduct services if he could use his old sermons. Lack of funds forced the group to disband in 1859. For the next several years there were few services held because very few ministers ventured this far west unless the American Unitarian Association sent them to support fledging congregations.
Establishment and First Growth (1872-1876)
John R. Effinger came from Keokuk, Iowa, and preached his first sermon on February 11, l872. Two weeks later, on February 25, 1872, fifty members signed Articles of Association, and the next year saw the official incorporation of “Unity Church of St. Paul.” In 1875, the now fast-growing membership moved into the vacant Universalist Church. They paid $1,000 yearly rent for the use of a “pleasant church and softly cushioned pews.” Ill health forced Mr. Effinger to resign in 1876, and Sunday services ceased.
The Gannett Era and First Church Building (1877-1884)
William Channing Gannett, an ardent abolitionist and supporter of women’s suffrage, arrived from Boston in 1877 for a three-month trial. By this time, the congregation numbered about 150 adults and seventy children in the church school. In 1879, after two years as minister, Mr. Gannett asked to be ordained. On that occasion he read his “bond of fellowship,” and eighty-four members of the congregation signed it. That bond is still recited as part of the Ingathering service for new members, with one small change: replacing the word “brotherhood” with the more inclusive “community.”
The Unitarians now felt secure enough to build their own church. They chose a site in downtown St. Paul and Mr. Gannett collaborated with the architect to design a two-story “church home.” In January 1882, they moved into the still-unfinished building. The congregation held the official opening service in the Queen Anne cottage-style building on April 15, 1883. The following summer, Mr. Gannett resigned to do “some other things,” and because he thought it was time for Unity Church to have a new minister.
Ministers of the Late 19th Century (1884-1900)
Mr. Clay MacCauley replaced Mr. Gannett and served from 1884–1886. He was a Civil War veteran who found his way to Unitarianism. He brought Unity prominent public notice through advertisements and speaking engagements. However, some members were unhappy with his emphasis on public ministry instead of ministering primarily to church members. Mr. MacCauley resigned to avoid causing division in the congregation. He later went on to head the Unitarian Mission in Japan.
In 1886, the trustees invited Mr. Samuel McChord Crothers from Brattleboro, Vermont, to be their minister, a post he held for over seven years. In addition to being a much-respected minister, Crothers was well known as the author of gentle, humorous essays that often appeared in the Atlantic Monthly. Under Mr. Crothers, the St. Paul Unitarians began taking a wider interest in their Minnesota Unitarian neighbors. The Minnesota Unitarian Conference was organized and held its first meeting in 1888 with delegates from St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, Winona, St. Cloud, Luverne, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Alma, Wisconsin. In 1894, Mr. Crothers resigned to become the minister of First Parish Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
After a period of inviting guest ministers to preach, Unity called William Rogers Lord of Boston in February 1895. His ministry at Unity Church was short-lived. In his letter of resignation, dated October 3, 1897, Mr. Lord writes that “St. Paul has but one liberal church, and that church should be strong. … It is clear to me that I am not the man to bring about these results.” Lord is best known for his interest in ornithology, sparked during his ministry at First Unitarian church in Portland, Oregon, from 1899–1901.
In October 1898, the congregation called Clarence Leslie Diven of Connecticut. He started ministry as a Trinitarian Congregationalist, then became Unitarian, and soon after came to Unity Church. There were great hopes for his ministry, but he became ill in late 1899 and died in January 1900.
A New Century and a New Location (1900-1917)
Richard Wilson Boynton came to St. Paul from Roslindale, Massachusetts, in the fall of 1900. In 1902, the congregation felt it needed a new church in a new location. Although the Queen Anne building was still adequate, the neighborhood was becoming more commercial. As a result, residents were moving out of the downtown area, and their churches were following them. A new Unity Church, at its present site at Portland and Grotto, was dedicated on December 10,1905. Because of health problems, Mr. Boynton resigned in 1907 to try a milder climate. He served other Unitarian churches before becoming a professor of philosophy at the University of Buffalo, New York, where he taught for 37 years.
Mr. Boynton’s successor was John Dumont Reid, who originally served Congregationalist churches before moving to Unitarianism. He served in Greenfield, Massachusetts, before coming to St. Paul in 1908. Mr. Reid found the demands of parish administration not to his liking. The result was a severe decline in membership and attendance. Mr. Reid resigned in early 1917 and subsequently served mostly interim positions.
The Eliot Years (1917-1937)
Frederick May Eliot preached his first sermon in St. Paul in January 1917 and made a strong impression on the congregation. Mr. Eliot came from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he worked with Mr. Crothers. Beginning in August 1918, he served as a military chaplain at a hospital unit in France during World War I, returning to St. Paul in April 1919. The church grew steadily during his 20-year ministry, as did the building with the addition of the Parish Hall and the Ames Chapel. He introduced programs for young people, including the Tower Club for high-school age youth, which is still active.
Mr. Eliot was active in the community, serving on the founding board of the Twin Cities Urban League and the boards of several service agencies. Mr. Eliot resigned in 1937 to become president of the American Unitarian Association in Boston and served until his death in 1958.
Innovation in Ministry Selection and the Robbins Era (1937-1944)
The search for Mr. Eliot’s successor led to a new approach to selecting ministers. Previously, multiple candidates took turns preaching at the church. After all the candidates’ visits, the congregation would make their final choice. The new approach authorized a committee to search for a suitable candidate, who then spent a week at Unity Church, after which the congregation would vote yes or no. Other Unitarian churches adopted this method, which continues to be the way most Unitarian Universalists select ministers.
The result of this search was Wallace W. Robbins, who came from a parish in Alton, Illinois, and was highly recommended by Mr. Eliot. Mr. Robbins was particularly good with young people, and the topics discussed in the Tower Club made it a popular program. He experimented with an additional service on Wednesday evenings and maintained the practice of twice-yearly communion services, a pattern set by Mr. Eliot. He also became involved with the Urban League, helping to raise awareness of the racial problems in St. Paul. Despite the challenges presented by the Depression and World War II, the congregation developed creative ways to remain viable. In 1944, Mr. Robbins resigned to take office as president of Meadville Theological School in Chicago.
The Foote Era: Growth and Challenges (1945-1970)
Arthur Foote II came to Unity Church from a parish in Stockton, California. Installed in October 1945, Mr. Foote would serve until 1970, when he retired from the ministry. The 1950s were a time of rapid growth. Rather than move, the congregation chose to support the establishment of a “branch church.” Ronald J. Walrath, the assistant minister from 1955–1959, helped with organizing a second church in Mahtomedi, for which Unity Church gave significant financial support.
In 1957, a new wing was added for offices and classroom space and named in honor of Frederick Eliot. In response to a request from Meadville Theological School, Unity provided ministerial internships starting in 1960. The total Sunday attendance, including church school children, averaged six hundred people.
Mr. Foote was very involved in the larger community, including leading an effort to reform the mental health system in Minnesota. Frederick Rutledge served as an associate minister from 1966-1970. A fire in 1963 gutted the main church, but the successful reconstruction resulted in a light-filled modern structure and the addition of a tracker organ. The restored building was dedicated in January 1965.
Phillips Ministry and New Approaches (1971-1999)
Roy D. Phillips came to Unity Church in May 1971 from the UU Church of Racine and Kenosha, Wisconsin. His ministry brought significant growth in membership, the addition of a second Sunday service, and a new approach to religious education. In the late 1980s, a capital campaign secured funds for building renovation and expansion of the facilities, adding a second floor to the Eliot Wing to provide additional meeting space and a classroom area.
In the late 1990s, the board moved to Policy Governance. The system clarified the authority and accountability of the board and the minister, and the relationship between them, so each could best contribute to advancing the church’s mission and ends.
Gretchen Thompson joined as a second minister and served from 1995–1998. She resigned in the fall of 1998, followed by the retirement in December of Mr. Phillips. Kathy Fuson Hurt was the “pre-interim” minister from March to August 1999, followed by the one-year interim ministry of Davidson Loehr, who went on to serve a church in Austin, Texas.
Co-Ministry and Contemporary Mission (2000-2021)
After a year of discernment and search, the congregation called Rob and Janne Eller-Isaacs as co-ministers. They had previously served the First Unitarian Church in Oakland, California, for eighteen years. They introduced pilgrimage opportunities, the worship associate program, community outreach teams, and started a mid-week “church night,” with dinner and programs. In 2006 “Giving away the plate” began, with a portion of the Sunday offering donated to a community group with shared values. Undergirding all their efforts was the desire to develop an antiracist spirit within the congregation.
Growth in the use of the church spaces revealed the need for building updates focusing on improved infrastructure, reduced energy use, and new program needs. In 2012-2013, the building underwent significant renovations following a successful capital campaign.
The Eller-Isaacs retired in 2021, having spent the last year of their ministry navigating the COVID pandemic with a strong pivot to online ministry. Sadly, they both died within a few years and were never able to enjoy their retirement.
Time of Transition, New Settled Minister (2021-2024)
Rev. Kathy Fuson-Hurt served a one-year interim ministry while a search for a new minister took place. When this search failed to identify a new settled minister acceptable to the congregation, Rev. Kathleen Rolenz took on a two-year ministry to prepare the congregation for its next search.
In May 2024, the ministerial search team successfully presented Rev. Dr. Oscar Sinclair as the candidate for the next senior minister. He was installed by the congregation in April 2025. Previously, Mr. Sinclair served for seven years as the senior minister of the Unitarian church in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Mr. Sinclair was in the Peace Corps and was active in his home church in Baltimore, serving as a worship associate and on the Board of Trustees. He attended Wesley Theological Seminary where he received his doctorate in 2023. During his ministry in Lincoln, Nebraska, he was active in justice issues.
