How the Concord church became a part of the great movement of Christian Science, is tersely told by Mrs. Eddy in a note to the editor of the Concord Monitor, July 16, 1904, as follows:
When I removed from Boston in 1889 and came to Concord, N. H., it was that I might find retirement from many years of incessant labor for the cause of Christian Science; and the opportunity in Concord's quiet to revise our text-book, Science and Health. Here let me add that, together with the retirement I so much coveted, I have also received from the leading people in this pleasant city all and more than I anticipated. I love its people—love their scholarship, friendship, and granite character. I respect their religious beliefs; and thank their ancestors for helping to form mine. The movement of establishing in this city a church of our faith was then far from my purpose,—knowing that such an effort would involve a lessening of the retirement I so much desired. But the demand increased, and I consented, hoping thereby to give to many in this city a church home.
How Mrs. Eddy made possible the organization of the Concord church, and provided the stately edifice of which the city is justly proud, cannot be so briefly related. Very little was known of Christian Science when Mrs. Eddy took up her residence in the capital of her native state, and so complete was her retirement that little was seen of her, only as she went about the city on her daily drives. Later, as people heard and learned more of Christian Science, one after another became interested, and even met together a few times to read the Bible lessons. It was therefore a memorable event when on one occasion Mrs. Eddy met with them, and read from the Bible and gave a little talk. It was in the winter of 1894-1895 that these meetings began to be held regularly, and there was a gradual increase until the attendance numbered nearly thirty. At that time, Mrs. Eddy advised the renting of a small hall, and this was occupied for one year. When, through continued demonstration of the healing power of Truth, interest had so increased that the securing of more commodious quarters seemed imperative, Mrs. Eddy not only took measures to meet the present need, but she held out a glorious hope, and an incentive to even "greater works" than had thus far been done, in a letter dated Oct. 2, 1897, in which she wrote, in answer to a question addressed to her by the editor of a local paper:
