Our History
Ella Moody Holton, C.S.D., who was instrumental in bringing Christian Science to Jackson in the late 1800s.
Today First Church of Christ, Scientist, Jackson and its Reading Room are side-by-side at 145-147 East Michigan Avenue. This downtown area has seen a rejuvenation as it stands in the shadow of the new Consumers Energy headquarters located just a block away. This has brought new foot traffic by our present location. Prior to the Church moving here, it was located at the other end of Michigan Avenue near Wildwood Avenue. Today’s congregation is smaller and the new space offers a more intimate setting. This wasn’t the first move for the church. As you will read below, it relocated several times, depending on the then current needs of the congregation.
In 1967, Helen P. Field wrote “A History of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Jackson, Michigan.” The following draws heavily (and in some cases quotes directly) from her account.
Healing has always been a major focus of Christian Science. In 1925, when the building of the Christian Science church at the West Michigan and Wildwood in Jackson was moving forward, tragedy struck. While stones of the parapet were being lifted in place, the hoisting tackle broke. A stone weighing over two tons fell against a worker. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The published church history described what happened next. “The architect, who arrived at the job just after this occurred, was a church member and alert to know the truth. He promptly called two other [Christian] Scientists for [prayerful] help, and the man revived and was back at work in two days.” The worker was able to attend church services by Sunday.
Leonard H. Field, Jr., was the architect referred to in the quote from the church history. He and his wife, Helen, were two of the three involved in the healing of the worker.
Through the years, members of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Jackson, have had many healings and shared the good news at church services and in other ways.
The Jackson church history points to the experience of one early church member, Waland D. Higdon, who had been ill for 50 years. Through diligent study in Christian Science he was healed of his maladies. His hair, which had been nearly white, was restored to its natural color. Some time later, a facial birthmark gave place to clear skin and youthful coloring. He became a Christian Science practitioner, someone who devotes full time to the healing of others through prayer.
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Jackson, was organized on November 26, 1895 with six charter members. We know most about Ella Moody Holton.
Helen P. Field, holding her granddaughter, Annie.
She had been taught by Mary Baker Eddy in 1886 or 1887 and had earned the degree of C.S.D. (practitioner and teacher of Christian Science). Ella had been a devout Methodist, but had been yearning for something more.
When she heard of Christian Science, the “new religion that heals the sick,” she found her answer. Reading the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, led her to being taught by its author, Mrs. Eddy. Returning to Jackson, she began Sunday meetings with a small group at the local YWCA. The six charter members were Ella Moody Holton, Adelaide Birdsall Mericle, Mary Jane Beamish, Thomas H. Beamish, Chloe Jane Sechlar, and Mary S. Clark.
Before the building the present day structure in 1925, this was the original Christian Science church in Jackson
Eventually, services were held in the Odd Fellows Hall on the second floor of a downtown building. In 1902 the twenty-seven members purchased a church that faced Blackman Park. It had been originally built by the Congregationalists. The structure no longer exists; but at the time, it was one of the oldest in the city. The style was old New England meeting-house. The floor joists of Tamarack logs still had the bark on them!
Membership was growing and the old church seated only 240. The group saw the need of a larger structure and in 1914 purchased a lot on West Michigan and Wildwood Avenues. The lot cost $12,800; and construction, $155,000. That doesn’t sound like much, but it was an act of demonstrating God’s abundance when you consider the amount in today’s dollars – close to 4-million dollars.
And the construction began. Early in the year, a date had been set for the first service, Thanksgiving Day, 1925. Anyone familiar with construction projects knows how difficult it is to meet building deadlines. This was no exception. Delays crept in. For one, the glass for the windows was not arriving on time. There was discussion about moving the completion date forward, so the church directors had a decision to make.
With just two weeks to go, the directors discussed the problem with the architect, then met with each other. Would they submit to the delays or stay on schedule? As the church history describes it, that meeting was pivotal. It was held in the basement of the new structure with the clerk sitting on a stack of lumber. “…part of Mr. Rome’s letter to Mrs. Eddy on page 60 of ‘The First Church of Christ, Scientist and Miscellany” was read and it was unanimously voted to hold the opening service as already announced [Thanksgiving Day]. On the Wednesday evening preceding Thanksgiving Day, the architect himself, Leonard H. Field, Jr., lettered on the wall above the platform the quotation from Science and Health, ‘Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need’.” That Wednesday night some thirty members gave the new church a thorough cleaning and made it ready for the Thanksgiving Day service less than 24 hours from then. And what a celebration! It was attended by a near capacity crowd (700-800 people).
Since the church was built in 1925, Mary Baker Eddy’s quote has been re-lettered. But it’s in the same location as described in this history.
The 1930’s hit Jackson hard. Time magazine called Jackson “the nadir of the depression.” Many businesses and their employees left Jackson including many church members. Other demographic shifts occurred with the result of an over-capacity of space leading to the eventual move to 147 East Michigan Avenue. Still, today’s smaller group believes Christ Jesus’ promise: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Many financial donations and bequests have made possible improvements over the years. Some of those improvements took years and came in increments. Helen Field’s history points to the acquisition of land for ample free parking. And in 1965 the church acquired one of Jackson’s finest pipe organs, a Moller installed in 1965.
It’s inspiring to think back on the efforts of Ella Moody Holton and many others who brought Christian Science and its blessings to Jackson. There is an old hymn that carries the spirit of church history. The writer of this hymn undoubtedly was thinking about the early Christian apostles, but some of us will also remember our local pioneers who overcame many challenges in establishing Christian Science in Jackson. Church locations have changed through the years. Even so, as we walk through the vestibule and into the the church auditorium, we know:
“Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided,
All one body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.
It’s remarkable how this hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers, speaks to the challenges churches face today, no matter what the threat–financial woes, societal hostility or indifference, or governments.
“Crowns and thrones may perish,
Kingdoms rise and wane,
But the Church of Jesus
Constant will remain;
Gates of hell can never
‘Gainst that Church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise,
And that cannot fail.
Lest we forget, there is great joy to be had in joining together to celebrate God’s goodness and blessings. This is your invitation and arms-open welcome to First, Church of Christ, Scientist, Jackson!
“Join our happy throng;
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song;
Glory, laud and honor
Unto Christ the King;
This through countless ages
Men and Angels sing.
…
with the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
