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For nearly a decade, Rev. Alan Rowbotham was my minister and supervisor at First Unity Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. He and his wife, Rev. Kathryn, were good friends, too, for nearly 25 years.
During the time I worked for the church, my responsibilities included creating slide shows, web pages, newsletters and other marketing materials, as well as managing more than 300 volunteers.
Today, I unearthed some old files, just to remind me of all the blessings that came from knowing such special human beings. It was Rev. Alan who encouraged me to serve God in a much bigger way, by starting my own ministry to ministries (Friends of Ministry), which serves churches all over the U.S.
It’s my hope and prayer that these images also remind you of the blessings that Rev. Alan and his wife, Rev. Kathryn, brought into your life, and that they lead you to make the most of this day that God has given you.
— Cheryl Harrison, Founder, Friends of Ministry
P.S. Many of these photos, originally used in presentations I created for the church, were taken by the late Michael Cerone, a New York Yankees photographer and member of First Unity who donated his services, as well as film and processing, to the church. Michael was a dear friend to Revs. Alan and Kathryn, to me, and to many others.
Rev. Alan was a wise and gentle soul. He nurished me when I was struggling with my faith. His ministry of loving kindness will always be an inspiration to me. I am blessed by his love.
Rev Alan changed my life and taught me how to practice my faith in God & Jesus Chris
Great job Cheryl. This brought back a lot of memories. We have lost a wonderful sweet soul. We will all miss him.
Thanks for the memories Cheryl.
Thanks for all the wonderful photos and memories.
Cheryl, thank you so much for the beautiful and thoughtful memorial you have created for Revs. Alan and Kathryn. The photos renew many memories and remind me of lives beautifully lived. You were a special and devoted friend to both of them. Blessings upon them and you, dear friend.
Thank you Cheryl for this great blessing. Reverend Kathryn felt like a dear close friend; loved her sense of humor. Reverend Alan – an earth angel; his eyes always sparkling, a smile sincere & joy-filled, his voice a soft confidence always speaking the right words of guidance. How we each at First Unity were blessed with these two ministry teachers and guides.
Thanks for your beautiful work Cheryl. So many of us loved Alan and are full of gratitude for his teachings that changed so many lives for the better. I personally am grateful to you for being such a loyal friend to him especially in his later years
when you were always there for him to assist him in any and many ways. I’m sure Kathryn is smiling down on you with much love. They were precious friends.
Lovingly, Nancy Rubino
Thanks again Cheryl. We loved him. He touched so many with his loving kindness and guidance. He was an extraordinary man that will always be in our hearts.
We did not know Rev. Alan real well, but just his presence and his energy was a gift for all of us.
Rev Alan was a magnificent human being who will be forever missed! ?
I am blessed to have known him from afar – to have had access to his teachings via the internet and his permission to share his words with my church community. I continue to miss his writings – my condolences to his loved ones and church family.
I only met him a few times in my life but he seemed like a genuinely lovely and kind man. I always wanted to have got to know him better but unfortunately he died before I got the chance. Reading these lovely messages confirms what a kind generous person he was.
I knew Alan and Kathryn Rowbotham when they were pastors of Unity of the Roanoke Valley in Virginia.
They were the kindest people I ever had the pleasure of knowing. No discussion was too difficult for them to talk about. They were the kind of pastors who you could pour your heart out to. They were very special and their ministry unique. It’s too bad pastors today aren’t more like them.
I am a musical artist who performed for over fifty years. Every time I sang at Unity, the Rowbothams were always so appreciative. It was always a pleasure to sing for Unity of the Roanoke Valley.
I miss them both very much and I hope when I go to my next destination, I can see them again.
I knew him from Unity in Akron,Ohio, many years ago. He was truly an inspiration. I have a bit of an odd question for anyone who might know. Did Alan have any particular interest in or admiration for Mark Twain? Thank you .
UNITY
I found Unity shortly after I read the Bible for the first time. I learned so much there. The church I attended is still there today and is still a Unity Church. When I went there it was Rev. Alan Rowbotham. I was able to find his obituary and even find a book he had written Miracle Power You Can Use Today (which I bought). I wish I was able to express to him how much his teachings and services meant to me and eventually my husband too.
At Unity they accepted all walks of life, you could be Buddhist, Christian, atheist, agnostic, Pagan, whatever, it didn’t matter. Everyone was truly accepted. Not tolerated, not humored, accepted and respected.
Still during this time I clung to the title Christian as if this would ensure my entrance into heaven one day.
I remember preparing to meet with Alan before I committed to the church. My mother was so afraid that I would be going to an evil “Crystal Worshipping” church, she wanted me armed with questions to be sure that I was in a legit church where my soul and her Grandchild’s soul would be safe and saved.
I was still exploring and developing my own personal spiritual identity and this step into the unknown wasn’t just about me, but also my little boy. I was a young mother and he was just 5 years old. It was one thing for me to be risking eternal damnation by exploring outside a traditional Christianity, but it was a whole other thing to have my little boy’s eternal soul on the line as well. I wanted to be sure I was making the right decision for both of us.
MEETING Rev. Alan Rowbotham
I made an appointment and went in to meet with Reverend Alan. His office was packed with books, like a library. He was small in stature, probably the same height as me. He had white hair, a white short kempt beard and mustache. He was much older. His eyes were blue, twinkly and kind. He had an English accent and his voice was gentle and articulate.
I imagined him going to some fancy English prep school and rebelling during the social and cultural revolution of the 60s. Like many other spiritual seekers he would then be compelled to explore Nepal and India for spiritual enlightenment. I have no idea if he did do all that, but I have a wild imagination. 😀
I sat across from him, he was seated behind his desk. I read off my (Mother’s) questions I had written down on paper, one by one.
Is this a Christian Church?
Do you believe Jesus was the son of God?
Do you teach from the Bible? (And then my mother had a specific Bible she liked too, it was King James I think).
His answers were wise, beautiful and beyond the understanding of my 22 years on this planet, even though at the time, I already considered myself somewhat spiritually evolved.
I wish I could remember his answers exactly as they were. I can try.
He believed we all had the potential to achieve what he called Christ consciousness.
Alan believed Jesus was a great teacher. He believed we were all the children of God, not just Jesus. He believed that is what Jesus was trying to tell us. There were other important teachers to learn from, such as Buddha. He explained that at Unity Church they used teachings from all different religions and books. He believed in God but also that there are many paths. Hence the name “Unity”.
I remember replying “But what if you are wrong? What if “Unity” is bad”?
It was silent for a minute. I could hear the absurdity. It repeated in my head… What if unity is bad? Our eyes met and we both laughed.
The idea that unity could be bad came from hearing in traditional Christian teachings that there would be some kind of unity movement at the end of times and that it was a trick by Satan.
I was looking at the photo of a young man on his desk. I asked who it was. He said, his son. And for the life of me, I don’t know why I asked the next thing. “Is he still alive”?
Alan “Why would you ask that”?
Me “I don’t know”.
Alan “No he is not”.
Me “What happened”?
Alan “He killed himself”.
Me “Why”?
Alan “I couldn’t make him see that God was within him”.
His pain was palpable. I think at 22, I just didn’t have the social etiquette to not pry. He wasn’t angry, uptight or even uncomfortable though. But now behind the twinkle, he also carried a deep sadness in his eyes.
That conversation still haunts me and makes me tear up to this day.
He suggested that I might have an intuitive gift. That’s not the first time something like this has happened to me. But that’s a whole other story.
CRYSTAL WORSHIPPING HIPPIE CHURCH
I decided to let go of or at least work on letting go of old religious beliefs that were instilled in me from the time I was a little girl. I realize now that this is a long slow process. I was taught to just have faith and not question what I was taught, that in questioning things, I was committing blasphemy. Satan was around every corner just waiting to trip me up so he could have my soul. This type of teaching has taken me my entire life to learn to let go of and I still struggle with it.
I began going to church at Unity at just 22 years of age. The church had Rabbis, Monks, Christians and spiritual people from all paths come in to speak with us about their own path. I knew I was where I needed to be. I became a Sunday school teacher there and eventually my whole family attended together. Not my mother, but my anarchist boyfriend (to be husband) and our son.
My mother continued to taunt me in regards to my choice to stay with this church. She called it my “Crystal Worshipping Hippie Church”. I would argue with her and be perturbed by her teasing. But eventually it actually grew on me.
I’m ok with being called a Crystal Worshipping Hippie now. Right now, from all of the experiences I have had, all of the beautiful, powerful teachers I have met along the way, that is who I truly am.
💎🙏☮️⛪
Jesus: “With faith as small as a mustard seed you will do greater things than me.”
Thank you for your beautiful, heartfelt tribute!