Cookeville’s Unity Church Searching For New Location

Unity Church of the Cumberlands searching for a new location after closing on the sale of its 10th Street location.

Minister Ann Marie Beale said the Cookeville-based church decided to downsize because its congregation shrank during the pandemic. Beale said the church is now looking for a building or land to build on that would suit the needs of the congregation.

“Enough of a land for a parking lot and big enough for around a hundred people,” Beale said. “We want a kitchen fellowship area, but we don’t need anything huge. Something we can grow in.”

Beale said the church is currently holding services at the Wesley Foundation’s Community Theater on East 9th Street. Beale said the church has an ongoing agreement to use the theater for the foreseeable future but she hopes to have a new location in less than a year.

“We believe in divine order which means that we’re going to go with the flow of it,” Beale said. “We’re not going to rush it because we don’t want to jump into anything that isn’t right for us.”

Beale said the church sold or donated the equipment and furniture it did not need when it moved into the Wesley Foundation’s space. Beale said the foundation was very cooperative, allowing the church to move in gradually and bring its chairs along.

“Everybody pitched in and it really went smoother than we thought with everybody pitching in,” Beale said. “But yeah, it is no small feat, that’s for sure.”

Beale said the move has brought a new energy into the church and the congregation has already seen growth in the community theater.