Unity Presbyterian Church

Unity Presbyterian Church was established in 1788, making it the oldest congregation in Fort Mill. The church complex consists of attached buildings, including the historic former sanctuary that is now a Jewish synagogue called Temple Kol Ami, and two adjacent cemeteries. The historic sanctuary was built in 1881 and its design combines the Colonial Revival and Romanesque architectural styles. The bell tower features false buttresses, an arched main entrance with a fanlight, an arched window with tracery, and a steep sheet metal roof with four corner spires. Arched windows with tracery are located on either side of the tower and the sides of the building.

Unity Presbyterian held its first service on March 18, 1788 in a small log structure in a small community two miles north of Fort Hill called "Little York." The church was situated on a hill near Steele Creek. A fire destroyed it in 1804 but the next church was built soon after about one mile southwest where the population in the area was growing (this would become Fort Hill). In 1805 another church, also a log building, was built. The next church was erected in 1838 and it was close to where the church complex is now. This building was a wood-frame structure and featured a steeple and belfry, although a bell wasn't installed until 1877. Unfortunately, the a fire destroyed the church in 1880.

The congregation was determined to prevent another disaster and decided to build the 1881 church out of brick. The first service took place in October. The manse (the minister's house) was added in 1920 and an addition—an education and fellowship building—was built in 1938. An addition was erected on this building in 1938. Various restoration and refurbishing work was done between 1977-1978. The present sanctuary was built in 2010. The church complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

Gettys, Paul M. "Unity Presbyterian Church." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. June 11, 1992. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/590e2745-c188-4bbd-90ac-fbfa2dd2b71e.

"Our History." Unity Presbyterian Church. Accessed June 23, 2021. https://unityfortmill.org/about-us/our-history.