SO marked was the growth of Christian Science in London that Second Church of Christ, Scientist, was formed Dec. 19, 1902, by sixty-five Christian Scientists, members of The Mother Church, and the following Sunday (Dec. 21) its first service was held in the Elysées Galleries, Bayswater, W., a building with a seating capacity of about two hundred. The following day the first meeting of church-members was held, at which meeting by-laws were framed and adopted. Readers, directors, and other officers were also appointed at this meeting. A few days later, reading-rooms were opened in Regent street, W.
Within twelve months the Elysées Galleries were no longer large enough, and on the first Sunday in 1904 the services were transferred to the Eolian Hall, New Bond street, W., which had just been completed. It was not long before the seating capacity of this hall was enlarged to accommodate upward of five hundred people. During all this time the necessity of having its own church home had been continually before the members, and a fund for this purpose had been established immediately after the formation of the church.
At a church meeting held July 11, 1907, however, it was unanimously resolved that the fund should be suspended until the dedication of First Church edifice. When this had taken place, Second Church took active steps to secure a building site, and finally secured the present freehold site in Palace Gardens terrace, Kensington, W., for the sum of twelve thousand two hundred pounds. On this site stands an edifice with a seating capacity of about nine hundred, which is well suited to the present needs of the church. The first service in this building was held on Sunday, April 23, 1911. There is every reason to hope that the balance unpaid on this site will very shortly be extinguished, and thus a way be opened for the erection of a new church edifice which will stand for a witness of the healing power of Truth and Love.
