Unity on the River - Introduction

Unity on the River began in May 1994 as a prayer and study group in response to Rev. Shipley Allinson's call to become a minister and her vision of bringing Unity to her community. There were 4 people at the first meeting in Shipley's home. The group increased quickly to the capacity of the space – 14 people.

A reunion of Shipley's original study group

The pioneers continued to meet for three more years before deciding to hold services one Sunday per month in the basement of a bank (February, 1997). Two months later, Unity of Greater Newburyport (as it was originally named) moved to a Masonic Temple and held services every other Sunday. As the congregation grew to over 70 people, Unity of Greater Newburyport relocated to a more permanent space and our current home, located on the Powow River in Amesbury, MA.

Unity of Greater Newburyport was renamed Unity on the River to honor this new location. Our rapid growth in congregation (nearly 300 people at two services each Sunday) has promoted an expansion program that has seen the purchase of the space that we now occupy, as well as a plan to build out to the Powow River.