By Caroline Dobuzinskis
The Church of Christ, Scientist, on Iris Street in the west -end recently closed because its congregation had dropped to fewer than a dozen members.
Yet the Ottawa branch of the church remains involved with the larger community, says representative Lyle Young.
“As a church we really don’t focus on the numbers,” says Young, who represents Christian Scientists on Ottawa’s multifaith committee on spiritual and religious care.
“What we think is important is spirituality of the individual and how they support the community. From this particular point of view, the health of the church is not a concern.”
Currently, all Ottawa members attend the First Church of Christ, Scientist, on Metcalfe Street. The pews in the vast, classic Italian-style building are sparsely occupied during Sunday services.
The Church’s declining numbers are also reflected in the Canadian census.
But according to Young, Christian Science is still visible in Ottawa in several ways.
On Dec. 2, Young represented the Church of Christian Science at a conference on spiritual care for mental illness that brought over 200 doctors to Ottawa.
The conference was organized by the Ottawa multifaith committee, a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization established in 1972 to protect religious rights and meet spiritual needs in health-care facilities.
The church’s Ottawa branch also has a nurse available for personal care such as aid with meals and mobility.
Originally, Christian Science was introduced in Ottawa in 1898 when crowds gathered at member Elizabeth Higman’s home to hear its teachings. Then in 1913, members built the impressive church on Metcalfe of resilient Ohio sandstone. The equivalent of approximately $800,000 was raised to build the church through generous private donations and bank loans.
The Church’s philosophy is based on the works of Mary Baker Eddy, who founded the religion in 1878 in Massachusetts. Eddy was an advocate of spiritual healing and rejected all forms of medicine.
These beliefs do not resound with the majority of Canadians who depend on health care services and medicine.
But according to David Spendlove, member of the church since 1960, spiritual healing has had a direct effect on his employment, family and health.
“It’s a myth that Christian Science is opposed to doctors,” says Spendlove.
“We prefer prayer to medicine but we are not opposed to it. We are taught that we can heal through prayer and if we are going to join the church, we should practice what we teach.”
Fact box:
The issue: Ottawa Church of Christian Science forced to close its branch in Iris Street because of low membership.
What it means: The closure reflects the waning interest in Christian Science across Canada.
What’s next: Christian Scientists continue to maintain a level of involvement in the greater community.