The First Church of Divine Science, also called The Church of the Healing Christ, was founded in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

, in 1906. Affiliated with the

Divine Science The Church of Divine Science is a religious movement within the wider New Thought movement. The group was formalized in San Francisco in the 1880s under Malinda Cramer. "In March 1888 Cramer and her husband Frank chartered the 'Home College of Spi ...

denomination of the

New Thought The New Thought movement (also Higher Thought) is a new religious movement that coalesced in the United States in the early 19th century. New Thought was seen by its adherents as succeeding "ancient thought", accumulated wisdom and philosophy ...

movement, the church has been home to many notable ministers and attendees, including

Emmet Fox Emmet Fox (30 July 1886 – 13 August 1951) was an Irish New Thought spiritual leader of the early 20th century, primarily through the years of the Great Depression until his death in 1951. Fox's large Divine Science church services were held in ...

History

Dr. W. John Murray founded his congregation as The Church of the Healing Christ in 1906. After Divine Science co-founder Nona Brooks was invited to serve as a guest preacher there in 1917, she allowed Murray to rename his group the First Church of Divine Science. However, it was Emmett Fox who popularized the church. During this time the church was a member of the

League for the Larger Life The League for the Larger Life, founded in 1916, was an early New Thought organization based in New York City, New York, with a chapter in Washington, D.C. A locally-focused organization, several of its members were influential across the United S ...

. In 1931, Fox began preaching at the First Church. Almost immediately the congregation grew, and as the numbers of attendees grew the church had to find larger venues. Originally held at the

Waldorf Astoria Hotel Waldorf can have the following meanings: People * Stephen Waldorf (born 1957), film editor * William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor (1848–1919), financier and statesman * Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor (1879–1952), businessman and po ...

, the church moved to the Biltmore Hotel at the behest of its president, John M. Bowman. Growing further because of Fox's popularity, the church moved to

Hotel Astor Hotel Astor was a hotel on Times Square in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, New York, U.S. Built in 1905 and expanded in 1909–1910 for the Astor family, the hotel occupied a site bounded by Broadway, Shubert Alley, and 4 ...

, then to

the Hippodrome The Hippodrome, formerly known as the McElroy Auditorium, is a 5,155 permanent seat multipurpose arena located in Waterloo, Iowa. The auditorium was built in 1919 and renovated in 1936, when the roof was raised, floor was excavated and additiona ...

. With as many as 6,000 people regular attendees weekly, on special occasions such as Easter the number reached 8,000.Veneter, M. (2004) ''The Religious Thought of Emmet Fox in the Context of the New Thought Movement''. University of South Africa. p 32.

References

Christian organizations established in 1906 Churches in Manhattan Divine Science New Thought churches 1906 establishments in New York City 1900s architecture in the United States {{Reli-org-stub