Church Dedications

Note: Christian Science churches are dedicated only when free from debt.

Coloma, Michigan (Society).

Christian Science Society, Coloma, will dedicate the new Sunday School addition to its church on Sunday at 11 a.m., it was announced today.

The service signifies that the addition is now free of all indebtedness, a spokesman said.

Sunday's service brings to mind the early days of the society when services were held first in the Odd Fellows hall and then in the basement of the Coloma State bank building. In 1940 members voted to activate a building fund. Grants from the Selina C. Cornish Fund and from the Trustees under the Will of the Founder of this faith, Mary Baker Eddy, as well as gifts from friends and members, made it possible to begin a church building in the spring of 1941. First service in the church was held July 6th of that year with the dedication following on September 28th.

Sunday School was first held in what is now part of the foyer, but was soon moved to the basement for added room.

In 1958, it was decided to build an addition to provide more adequate Sunday School space, Readers' rooms and better public Reading Room facilities. This has now been completed and a new parking area provided.

The public is invited to attend Sunday's dedication and inspect the new rooms at the church edifice on Paw Paw street.—News-Palladium (June 17, 1961).

Whitstable, Kent, England (Society).

Christian Science Society, Whitstable, in St. John's Road, Swalecliffe, held its dedication services on Sunday.

Christian Science services were first held in Whitstable in March, 1950, in a private residence when five were present. When the number grew to 15 a larger room was found in a school, in March, 1951. In November of that year a move was made to the Assembly Rooms and a Sunday School was started. In March, 1952, the society was recognised as a branch of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts.

In June, 1955, a plot of land was purchased with money that had been given out of gratitude for a healing in Christian Science.

In 1957 another move was made to a small hall in Northwood Road, which was also used as a Reading Room on Wednesdays.

The present building was commenced in November, 1959, and the first service held there on Sunday, June 26th, 1960.

The members are very grateful to ... the Selina C. Cornish Fund, the Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy and to members and friends for their generous contributions, which made the dedication possible.—Whitstable Times and Tankerton & Swalecliffe Press (September 9, 1961).

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