The first church built in Unity was a Methodist church, built in 1826
in the south part of the town, near the home of the late Peter W. Ayer.
It was built by Benj. Ayer and others. Benj. Ayer settled on the P.
W. Ayer place afterward, and died on the Thos. Ayer place. I have the
information from his grandson, Joseph Ayer.
The next church was the Friends’ church, built, as stated above, in
1827. Benj. R. Stevens and Clement Rackliff were the builders.
In 1837 the Congregationalists built a church on the northeast corner
of land belonging to Josiah Murch, adjoining the land of B. B. Stevens.
The Murch farm is now owned by E. M. Jones. This church was built by
Ephraim Murch, Elisha Parkhurst, David Vickery and Jonathan Stone.
The ministry was largely supported by contributions from the village,
and it resulted in moving the building to the village. The principal
contributors from the village were Thomas Snell, John L. Seavy, Hiram
Whitehouse and Nelson Dingley. It was through the influence of these
men that the move to the village was made. The building was placed near
Dr. E. M. Soule’s residence. The steeple was put in place by Edwin
S. Stevens, Chas. E. Taber, Howard Carter and Archelaus Hunt. After
services were suspended in it, it was sold to Albert F. Watson. Asa
Stevens, his administrator, sold it to Thomas B. Cook, who took it
down, moved it to the station, and made it into a store. He then sold
it to S. S. & R. M. Berry, who carried on a grain business and dealt in
potatoes. They rented it to William Rand. It was burned later.