Definition of Church: The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle. The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick. Mary Baker Eddy
A brief history of First Church of Christ, Scientist, West Chester, Pennsylvania
There is no written record of when Christian Science was introduced to the West Chester community, but we know that by 1885, 140 students had been taught by Mrs. Eddy, and their outreach efforts generated great interest around the country. Local newspapers gave widespread publicity to Christian Science and local meetings in homes, including Samuel Cooper’s, 305 South Walnut Street, and Anna James’, 313 North High Street. On November 12, 1888, Kate Pierce of Bristol, Bucks County, whose healing of West Chester’s Edith Darlington’s badly impaired eyesight received widespread publicity, opened an office for Christian Science treatment at 131 East Gay Street, home of Emma Thatcher, one of her students. Lectures and talks continued during the 1890s, and Friday evening “experience” meetings begun in 1897, led to the official organization of our church on August 29, 1898, by 15 founding members.
Regular church services were held in rented space at Library Hall, Church Street, the current public library, until September 1, 1902, when services were moved to rented space in the Waddell Building, 117 North High Street. During these early years, the first Sunday of each month’s collection was sent to The Mother Church for its building fund. Five of our members attended in June 1906, The Mother Church dedication in Boston. The first Sunday of each month’s collection was then set aside for our own building fund. Our first Sunday school class was held in November 1906, and several well-attended lectures were held in 1907 and 1908, one, according to the newspaper, “attracting at least 700 people.”
At the November 7, 1908, annual meeting, it was resolved to purchase a suitable lot for a church building and a building committee – Mary Darlington, Gibbons Gray Cornwell and Sybil Forsythe – was selected and charged with getting the church built. Belinda Painter transferred the lot to Edith Darlington, who presented it to the church. Stakes were driven for the new church on March 16, 1909, and church incorporation was granted June 28, 1909. The first church and Sunday school services were held in the new building on March 6, 1910. Sunday School was held in the two rooms on either side of the foyer. The loft was separated from the main area by hinged glass doors that were opened during opening and closing hymns so the children could participate. Regular gifts from attendees, a gift from The Mother Church and a generous gift from two members, Isabel and Edith Darlington, enabled the church to be debt free and dedicated by March 11, 1917. (Isabel, a lawyer, was the first woman admitted to the Chester County bar and was elected as its president in 1940.)
In 1935, a bequest of Fred Pearson, a church member, provided the funds for a new Sunday school to accommodate approximately 40 students and it was dedicated February 1, 1936.
In 1964, the organ console in the right front corner of the church was refurbished and moved to the loft; the readers’ area was renovated with a new desk and platform; visible organ pipes were moved behind new paneling, and overhead lights installed. In the 1994-98 period, a bequest of Frances Baird, a church member, and contributions, provided the means to purchase new heating boilers and upgrade the heating system; refurbish the pews; install new carpeting; reconfigure the room to the right of the foyer into a restroom and storage area; refurbish the roof and gutter structures; upgrade the sound system; repoint the stonework; and paint both interior and exterior surfaces. In 2015-16, a bequest of John McWharf, a church member, provided the funds to purchase a new air conditioner; re-shingle the church roof; repair significant ceiling plaster cracking; paint interior and exterior surfaces; refurbish the storm water drainage system; and purchase new electronic keyboards for the Sunday school and church as backup for the organ.
A Christian Science reading room has been a constant in West Chester since 1902, when it opened in the same building as the church at 117 North High Street. Four moves brought us to the current building that we own at 129 North High Street. Intermediate moves to rented quarters were to the Farmers & Mechanics building at the southwest corner of Market and High Streets, December 1908; 134 West Gay Street, November 1939; and 131 North High Street, 1964. In 1988, when the property at 129 North High Street was listed for sale, we were able through member special contributions to make a down payment and secure a mortgage for its purchase. The mortgage was retired in 1994.
At the church dedication in 1917, Ella Cornwell, Second Reader, noted that “Whatever has been accomplished, has been accomplished through growth in spirituality. The church material, or the church militant, is the type and symbol of the church triumphant, or a ‘building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.’ “ All who attend our church services, Sunday school classes and use the reading room resources have been and will continue to be blessed by the dedicated church members who had the foresight and dedication to make this spiritual journey a reality for each of us today.
The Executive Board
July 2017
