History of Our Church

In 1956, Rev. Mildred Park founded the Unity Study Group. This group met in the Fairfax Town Hall until 1958, when it moved to a little white church at 202 E. Main Street in Fairfax. In 1961, the Unity Study Group was renamed Unity of Fairfax Church of the Daily Word.

Feeling some growing pains, the church began to make plans in 1967 for a building of its own, to be located in Oakton. Construction began in 1974. Because the congregation had outgrown the little white church on E. Main Street, Sunday services were held in the Robert Frost Middle School from 1973-1975.

In 1975, Unity of Fairfax moved to its new church home at 2854 Hunter Mill Road in Oakton (the smaller of our two buildings now).

By 1986, the congregation had outgrown this building as well, so Sunday services were held at James Madison High School. This situation lasted only two years, thanks to Unity of Fairfax’s purchase of an adjoining property known as Hill House. This house provided space for classrooms and offices, and allowed expansion of parking as well.

From 1988 to 2001, Unity of Fairfax settled back into its building for a period of temporary tranquility before further growth necessitated another move. This time, the congregation decided on an ambitious building plan that would allow for continued growth in place and eliminate the need to move again. The project involved demolishing Hill House and the raising of the beautiful building we have today. Construction required that the congregation once more find a temporary home.

From June 2001 to November 2002, Unity of Fairfax was dispersed across the area: Sunday services were held at Fairfax High School; office business was conducted from a donated space in the Mastercraft Furniture Store; and classes, choir rehearsal, and other meetings were held in a nearby private home called Pinecrest. A volunteer drove the van each Sunday to transport the bookstore, podium and platform chairs, youth supplies, coffee pots, and other materials to Fairfax High School.

At last, in November 2002, we moved into our new church building: a beautiful, modern structure. In 2003, Unity of Fairfax members decided to rename the original church building The Mildred Park Center in honor of our founder. 

Jean Lentz, fourth from left, was project manager for construction of the current building in 2002