As a spiritual movement with roots in metaphysical beliefs, New Thought has helped guide a variety of social changes throughout the 19th, 20th, and into the 21st centuries. Psychologist and philosopher William James labeled New Thought "the religion of healthy-mindedness" in his study on religion and science, The Varieties of Religious Experience.”
Charles married Myrtle in Clinton, Missouri, on March 29, 1881, and the newlyweds moved to Pueblo, Colorado, where Charles established a real estate business with the brother-in-law of Nona Lovell Brooks, who was later to found the Church of Divine Science.
After the births of their first two sons, the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri. Two years later, in 1886, Charles and Myrtle attended New Thought classes held by Dr. E. B. Weeks. Myrtle subsequently recovered from chronic tuberculosis and attributed her recovery to her use of affirmative prayer and other methods learned in Weeks' classes. Subsequently Charles began to heal from his childhood accident, a development that he, too, attributed to following this philosophy. Charles Fillmore became a devoted student of philosophy and religion.
Science of Mind chartered the group as Kitchener Science of Mind Centre, May 12th, 1975. Under the tutelage of a Unity minister, James Sherman, we re-evaluated our position and applied to become a Unity church. The Association of Unity churches approved our bylaws July 24th, 1977. Unity Centre of Practical Christianity became an official Unity study group on December 15, 1977. On April 29, 1979, we officially made the transition from a study group to a full-fledged, independent church.
Unity Kitchener was once named Unity Center of Practical Christianity. The word Christianity was removed by Unity Worldwide with a view to open Unity to those of all denominations. Unity is a way of life, not a church per se.