I Love to Tell the Story! Part 1

BY REV. DORAL PULLEY 

Unity of Midtown, originally founded as Unity Temple of Truth Church, has a rich history in St. Petersburg.  The seeds for the church were planted in the 1940’s with the Unity Worldwide Ministries’ publication, the Daily Word, being read by teachers in classrooms throughout the city. In the 1950’s classes were taught by women of color such as Mamie Hughes, Jessie White, Catherine Brooks and Vivian Lockhart under the direction of Rev. Louise Beaty of First Unity Church.  Due to racism, rather than take classes at her church, Rev. Beaty thought it best that this studies be held in homes, garages and the Jordan Park Community Center in the South side of the city.

The study group taught principles about prayer, healing and prosperity. Some of the attendees were Octavia Peck, Gloria and Julia Lattimore, Charlie Mae Bynum, Minnie Hughes-Johnson, Ruby Logan and Aggie Graham. In July of 1956, Mamie Hughes donated land and James Brooks donated labor to build the church. The church building was completed in 1957 and became noted as the first Unity Church built by and for African Americans.  Rev. Catherine Brooks was the ordained as the minister of the church in 1960 and continued as pastor until her transition in 1990.

Today, Unity of Midtown is a multicultural, metaphysical, Bible-based church which has grown to over a hundred members. If you have any personal stories about the history of this great church, we invite you to tell your stories on Sunday, November 6 at 5:00 pm and Tuesday, November 8 at 6:30 pm.

Rev. Doral Pulley is the senior pastor of Unity of Midtown, 511 Prescott St. S, St. Petersburg.