Transforming Lives Through An Increasing Awareness of God. Welcome To Unity Christian Church!

The History of Unity Christian Church

Unity Center of Memphis, (now Unity Christian Church) had its beginning in the old Vance YMCA with twelve members. Montee Falls was ordained as a Unity minister in 1961. She held a Bachelor's and a Master's degree. She received an Honorary Doctorate in appreciation for her work at Tennessee State University. In 1971 she received Memphis' Outstanding Women's Award in Religion. Mildred Falls Davis, daughter of Montee and Joseph Falls, joined the church staff asAssistant Minister in 1971. She was made minister of the church in 1976. She too was a former teacher in the Memphis and Shelby County School systems. With UCC outgrowing it's first sanctuary, Rev. Dr. Davis breaks ground on a new church on McCorkle Road in 1984. The church sits on 5 acres, seats nearly 300 people, and has a prayer tower. It is the church UCC worships in today.	Honoring The History & The Heritage According to church archives, Dr. Montee Falls became acquainted with Unity teachings after someone left a copy of The Daily Word at a bus stop she used for transportation. After reading the small magazine she decided to subscribe to the publication and sent in her subscription request. When the monthly publication arrived she continued her Daily Word readings and was eventually introduced to other Unity books and magazines published by what was then known as The Unity School of Religion in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Since the readings proved to be inspirational and meaningful for her daily living. Dr. Falls began taking correspondence courses and began to grow in knowledge and understanding of the Unity teachings of practical Christianity. Imagine if you can, the year 1952. Memphis was a very segregated city, where all activities were regulated by laws governing this racially divided city. The infamous "Boss Crump" still lived and Memphis was ruled by his controlling grip. The fact that a minority female organized a non-traditional Christian Church in a very traditional Christian city in the heart of the segregated mid-south was an amazing task. In 1952 Montee Falls was no longer a young woman with a driving ambition to make a mark in life. She had already been successful as an educator, who had attained several degrees in higher education. She enjoyed a leadership role in her traditional church. She was a teacher in the Memphis and Shelby County School Systems, and the wife of Joseph W. Falls, principal of Geeter High School, and a master bricklayer of exceptional skills. In essence, the Falls family was a prominent middle class family with ties to the higher echelon of the Memphis community and the state of Tennessee. Yet, despite her status and accomplishments in the community, she embarked on yet another noble endeavor. Unity Center of Memphis had its beginning in the old Vance YMCA with twelve members. Services and classes were held there for two years. As membership grew, in 1957, the decision was made to purchase a house on the comer of Wellington and LaClede Streets. In 1969 the church was remodeled and a Sanctuary added. Charles and Myrtle Fillmore were co-founders of Unity Society of Practical Christianity in Kansas City, Missouri in 1889. Sixty-three years later, October 30, 1952 the late Dr. Montee Falls was responsible for bringing Unity Teachings to her people by founding Unity Center of Memphis.