In January 1845, a group of 72 Brown County residents began meeting on the third Sunday of each month for worship. Under the name Unity Baptist Church, they rotated the location of their services using various homes. Original members of the group included John Prosser, Pastor P.C. Bonz and Joshua Brummett.
Ground for the church’s first building was obtained in 1849, located on Spearsville Road in Hamblen Township. The first building on the site was 22 by 24 feet, built under the supervision of B.W. Zook, Calvin Skinner and S. S. Parsley. The building remained until a fire destroyed it around 1860. A much larger building was built in the site in 1889. A belfry and bell were added in 1891.
In 1848, the group of faithful worshipers welcomed John Wade Ragsdale to preach once each month or more when he was available. He served Unity for nearly 40 years. By 1890, the church, now having been long established in the American Baptist denomination, welcomed a “circuit-riding preacher” once each month. By 1917, the church welcomed the Rev. Francis H. Allbritton, who preached every other week.
For a few years during the Depression, Unity Baptist struggled to keep the church alive. A faithful few met regularly, if only for Sunday School. Then, in 1949, this nucleus of believers started raising funds to support a stronger witness in the community. Subsequent remodeling and additions to the current building included the adding of stained glass windows in 1949, a Sunday School annex in 1958, additional space in 1961 (that included indoor bathrooms), and a front foyer in 1972.
As part of the United States Sesquicentennial, a time capsule was buried south of the church on July 4, 1976. It is due to be opened on July 4, 2076.
Over the years, while being served by various pastors, the church has ordained or licensed 11 pastors who have served locally and afar. As Unity began to have regular services, it became needful to furnish housing for visiting pastors. The first provision came in the form of an Army Quonset hut moved from Camp Atterbury and placed on blocks just south of the church. A small parsonage was built in 1954 at the west end of the cemetery on a rise that offers a peaceful country view and impressive sunsets.
As the size of the congregation grew and the church building was showing its age, plans began for building a new facility. In 1984, land across the road was purchased. The first building on the site was a shelterhouse. Plans for a new worship center were developed under the leadership of Charles Gaither, Martin Travelstead, Philip Bunge, Tom and Susan Allen, and others. While most of the work of construction was done by members of the congregation, businesses and individuals from Brown County donated supplies, equipment and services. The new center was finished debt-free. In March 2000, the congregation “crossed the road” to the new building.
While Unity’s pastors have historically been men, women have always played a strong role in ministry both inside and outside the church. They have been responsible for coordinating funeral dinners, parent/child events, fundraisers for projects inside and outside the church, fellowship activities for women of all ages, and financial support for overseas missionaries.
Unity women have always led the way in reaching out to the surrounding community through such activities as funding a scholarship student, providing Christmas baskets, and serving at Brown County Health and Living. Currently, the women of the church provide Christmas shoeboxes to preschool students in the Brown County school corporation.
The youth of Unity have also been active throughout the church’s existence. They have participated in denominational programs as well as local events. Some have traveled to Thailand, the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, and conducted local Trash-a-thons. In 2000, Unity accepted the charter of Boy Scout Troop No. 193, which continues to meet regularly at the church. Currently, the largest ongoing program at Unity is the Word of Life program for youth ages preschool through teens. Vacation Bible School is very well attended every June.
Unity Baptist Church is currently the oldest active church in Brown County. As it celebrates its 175th anniversary in 2020, the church is looking backward at the strong presence it has had in both Brown and Morgan counties.
As it has from the beginning, Unity continues to be affiliated with the American Baptist denomination and maintains a conservative interpretation of scripture. At the same time, according to the church’s understanding of scripture, everyone is invited and will be welcomed with caring and joy, regardless of their religious convictions or social standing.
Unity Baptist Church’s history was built upon a foundation of supporting the needs of its surrounding community. Moving forward, Unity intents to continue its legacy of caring for the spiritual, physical and social needs of the congregation and its neighbors.
— Unity Baptist Church
