Unity of Birmingham began meeting as a study group at the City Hall in 1919. Elsie Carr (Echert) established the first Unity Center in Birmingham in May 1928 with 12 members. By the first anniversary in May 1929, those faithful 12 had grown to over 200.

Unity of Birmingham has demonstrated prosperity in many wonderful ways. In 1956 Catherine Thrower (Ponder) was hired as secretary and bookkeeper; and the career of one of the luminaries of the New Thought movement was launched. Catherine went to Unity Village for ministerial training and ordination and returned to marry a Birmingham native, Kelly Ponder. It was in her first ministry here in Birmingham that Catherine Ponder wrote The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity, with many of the members of her Unity classes serving as examples in her book.

In 1973 our beautiful modern church building replaced the turn-of-the-century mansion that was originally on the property.

In 1980 our current minister, Gerald (Jerry) Bartholow, was selected upon his ordination. On December 31, 1989, Jerry and Jane Bartholow were wed and Jane entered into the dual role of minister’s wife and administrator of the church. Under their capable leadership, the church has continued to grow.