Reverend Rita McInnis and her husband Noel shared their dream of having a Science of Mind Center in the Nations Capital with Suzanne Delahaie, a life long Religious Scientist. Together, they invited others to join them by sending a mailing to the subscribers of the Science of Mind Magazine. The first meeting was held at the Georgetown branch of the DC library April 19, 1985. Among those in attendance was Sandra Jardine, the director of Eads House in Georgetown, who volunteered the Eads House garden and the house for meetings. The next Sunday about 35 people gathered in the garden for the first service. A leadership team, called the Founding Mothers and Fathers, was formed to guide the Center through its initial growth phases.
Collecting the required 50 signatures to qualify for chartering as a member of the United Church of Religious Science took less than a month. The Charter Application was submitted by mid-July. The Charter was granted to the National Science of Mind Center October 22, 1985. Dr Fred Vogt, president of United Church of Religious Science formally presented the Charter to the congregation in November.
The center was definitely alive with Spirit! Accredited classes and workshops were presented. Weekly peace pilgrimages around the three major monuments, the White House and the Capitol were held. And, of course, weekly Sunday services were conducted. The Center grew which necessitated several moves to larger quarters for Sunday services while classes and other activities were held in homes and other facilities.
The search for a permanent home began after about four years in hotels. To the delight of everyone, the process culminated with the National Science of Mind Center celebrating its first service at the current Graham Road location just before Christmas in 1992.
After more than seven years of dedicated service, Reverends Rita & Noel decided to move on to other ventures. Approximately one year later, Rev. Sunday Robinson, a recent graduate of the United Church of Religious Science Denver campus, was hired.
Reverend Sunday led the congregation through a wonderful period of growth and to its re-naming as the Celebration Center of Religious Science.
During the interim between Rev Sunday’s departure in 1998 and Rev Trish Hall’s arrival in 2005, the Center was blessed with the loving service of Rev Hilary Taylor (1999 – 2001) and Rev Harriet Hawkins-Quigley (2002 – 2004).
The arrival of Rev Trish ushered in a period of growth exhibited by deepened commitment to the fulfillment of the Global Heart Vision, joyous participation by large numbers of volunteers engaged in sacred service and expanded financial stability.