On April 28, 2009 the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Unity
Temple to their 2009 list of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in America.
Click here for more information.
Unity Church, the predecessor to our
Congregation, was founded on January 25, 1871. By August of 1872, the
congregation had constructed a traditional Gothic revival church building. The
congregation consisted of liberal-minded individuals who purposely remained free
of institutional affiliation. From 1886 to 1891, Augusta Chapin, a
multi-talented Universalist woman, served as Pastor. She was an old friend of
Anna Jones Wright, the mother of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Reverend Chapin resigned her position in 1891 and was replaced by Dr. Rodney
Johonnot. Church attendance had reached an all time high and the Sunday school
attendance has also grown. Dr. Johonnot suggested the establishment of a new
church building fund. His thoughts proved to be prescient.
In the middle of the night of June 6th 1905, during a violent storm, lightning
struck the spire of the wood frame Unitarian Church in Oak Park. By dawn, it had
burned to the ground. The following morning, Frank Lloyd Wright put himself
forward to design a new church.
The concept Wright presented to the congregation met stated needs and was, at
least prior to construction, within their budget. It also broke nearly every
existing rule and convention for American and European religious architecture
while laying the groundwork for modern buildings. Along with a revolutionary
cubist design - with no steeple and no front entrance - Wright’s Unity Temple
would use concrete in a daring way. The Temple would be among the first
monumental buildings in the world to be comprised entirely of poured in place,
exposed concrete. The honest and elegant exploitation of this seemingly base
material at Unity Temple would become a signpost for design today.
As a church without a home, the congregation was eager to occupy its new
building as soon as possible. The construction contract called for the building
to be completed by November 15th, 1906. In reality, over two and a half more
years would elapse before the structure was substantially complete. The building
was to cost not more than $40,000, a figure that is put in context when
considering that Unity Temple was surrounded by fine public buildings, none
which cost less than $65,000 and some that exceeded $100,000. Several were
churches.
The bold design, an optimistic budget, unproven construction techniques, and
Wright’s penchant for modifying his designs during construction, made for a
challenging building process.
Finally, on September 26th 1909, more than four years after Unity Church burnt
to the ground, the new home of the congregation was dedicated during Sunday
services. Following the dedication, the Board of Trustees issued a resolution
thanking Frank Lloyd Wright.
"We believe the building will long endure as a monument to his artistic genius
and that, so long as it endures, it will stand forth as a masterpiece of art and
architecture."
Our Congregation continues to hold worship services, religious education programs, and other congregational activities in the building. While undergoing extensive renovation, Unity Temple also is open to the public for tours and rentals.
