Many church members have had contact with the Christian Science Benevolent Associations either in San Francisco or at Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. These two facilities are owned and operated by The Mother Church.
When they were originally built, no other care facilities for Christian Scientists existed. So the Sanatorium at Chestnut Hill (opened in 1919) served the eastern part of the United States, and the Pacific Coast Benevolent Association (opened in 1930) did the same for the area west of the Mississippi River. Although their establishment was not required in the Manual of The Mother Church, Mrs. Eddy's interest in such facilities is well documented (see the Christian Science Sentinel, Vol. XIX, p. 110).
After taking a long look at developments since the openings of these facilities, the Board of Directors of The Mother Church has requested that nonprofit organizations of Christian Scientists in Northern California and New England build and administer new facilities—at which time the present Benevolent Associations will be closed.
