Interest in Christian Science was awakened in Ottawa in 1888, through the healing of three of its residents. Other people became interested, were healed in their turn, and the work grew apace. It was not long before this small band of Christian Scientists began to worship together in a private house, which they continued to use as a meeting place for several years. In 1898 two members of this band were invited to attend the last class which Mrs. Eddy taught. At a special meeting held in December, 1899, a unanimous vote of the twenty persons present was taken for the organization of a church. The first action taken was to send assurances of heartfelt gratitude and love to our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy.
The first service of the new church was held in Bank Street Chambers, but permanent quarters were secured in Newcombe Hall, on Sparks Street. Another move was made to Wilson's Hall, where there was also accommodation for a reading-room. At the first annual meeting, Dec. 4, 1900, the clerk's report showed an increase in membership of nearly 300 per cent. Within less than one year from the time of its organization the church decided to purchase a home of its own. A very desirable property on the corner of Metcalfe and McLaren Streets, one of the best residential districts of the city, was secured at a cost of seven thousand dollars, and the house was remodeled. The whole of the main floor was converted into a chapel seating about two hundred persons, and one of the upper rooms was arranged as a reading-room. The first service in the new church home was held Dec. 29, 1900.
When the opportunity was presented to contribute to the building fund for the extension of The Mother Church, the Ottawa church unanimously voted that the whole of its own building fund should be forwarded, and further that the collections taken on the first Sunday of each month should be devoted to that purpose so long as The Mother Church fund remained open. At a later date the church made regular contributions to the building fund for the publishing house.
