About

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE FOUNDATION was established in 1986 as a charitable Trust. The Deed states that its purpose “is to advance the idea of the Christian religion as the Science of Christianity.” Its most important resource is a research Library, which is now housed near Cambridge, England.

Charitable status was sought so that the collection and activities should be impersonally owned, preserved and administered on behalf of man – “the generic term for all humanity” (See Unity of Good 51).

The Trustees are all active students of Christian Science, who are under no personal direction but accept the unique authority of the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy’s writings. The Foundation is totally independent, has no membership, and is not affiliated to the church organization in Boston.

The Library is in two parts, first: Bibles, Commentaries, etc. and publications which originated during Mrs. Eddy’s lifetime, and second: items appearing since 1910. The Trustees are aware of Mrs. Eddy’s statements relevant to the future of Christian Science, and in particular what she says in Miscellaneous Writings, 106: “Christian Science and Christian Scientists will, must have a history . . .” This is a forceful statement, especially as the word ‘must’ is italicized.

How are the Trustees to respond and fulfil the purpose of their Trust?

We feel that this history must be written and explained from a “scientifically Christian” point of view. This story inevitably includes an embrace of worldwide developments.

Whereas Christian Science advanced with remarkable speed under Mrs. Eddy’s jurisdiction, after 1910 differences and disagreements led to the Great Litigation of 1919-1921, which resulted in domination by the Board of Directors in Boston. Was this what Mrs. Eddy intended? Our view that it was not her intention rests on her vital clauses in the Church Manual and her conviction through experience “that material organization has its value and peril, and that organization is requisite only in the earliest periods in Christian history” (Retro. & Intro. 45).

Our aim is to follow Mrs. Eddy’s wise and loving counsel: “Drifting into intellectual wrestlings, we should agree to disagree; and this harmony would anchor the Church in more spiritual latitudes, and so fulfil her destiny. Let the Word have free course and be glorified. . . .Truth cannot be stereotyped; it unfoldeth forever” (No and Yes 45).

In the 1930s Richard Oakes, a dedicated Christian Scientist, began the collection and later it was enlarged during his collaboration with Gilbert Carpenter Senior and Junior in the U.S.A.. In 1983, when it became permanently established in England, it was titled Christian Science Research Library. The collection comprises:

Works written or supervised by Mary Baker Eddy
Biblical items
Metaphysical writings by others on Christian Science
Historical items
Biographies
Material relating to the Christian Science Church in Boston after Mrs. Eddy’s
jurisdiction – continuing to the present day
Miscellaneous items

The resources of the Library have enabled the Foundation to produce multiple publications. A full list of all the publications can be found here, most of which can be downloaded and printed from this website. Paper copies are also available free of charge through the contact form. Donations towards the cost of printing and postage are appreciated. A German translation of the Compendium is also available.

The border design on the top of this page is a replica of that designed by Mrs. Eddy in 1902, which was embossed on the covers of hardback editions of her books from that date onward. In 1925, after the Great Litigation, the Board of Directors had it removed. The detached olive branch is based on the symbol used on the cover of the Christian Science Quarterly from 1904 until 1935; it has a ‘heel’ of bark, indicating that when planted it becomes an individual tree.

Zechariah, a prophet to the remnant of Israel who returned after the 70 year exile, writes: “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord: . . . And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God” (6:12, 15).

Christian Science Foundation, England
Registered Charity 295685