History of our Church

“Our proper reason for church edifices is, that in them Christians may worship God, — not that Christians may worship church edifices!”

Mary Baker Eddy

In 1972, a small group of Christian Scientists, wanting to share the healing truths of Christian Science with their new community, met to discuss the possibility of forming a church to serve the Mission Viejo and surrounding areas.  The first worship service was held on March 7, 1973 at the Cordillera Elementary School, in Mission Viejo.

In December of 1973 the group was recognized in the community as the Christian Science Society of Mission Viejo. A Christian Science Reading Room was opened in January of 1975, and in June of the same year the Society became First Church of Christ, Scientist, Mission Viejo.

Attendance at the church services and Sunday school grew over several years.  In response to the prayers of the membership, the church moved into a two story building in Mission Viejo.  The members renovated the suites and in March 1980 the first church service was held at the new location.  This location served the church well for many years.

The City of Mission Viejo grew from 5,000 residents to over 90,000 today.

After years of membership growth, financial stability and prayerful work, the church purchased a piece of property at the current location in Rancho Santa Margarita in October of 1990. Rancho Santa Margarita became the center of the Saddleback Valley lying east of the freeway, and the center for the healing outreach of the church, which now includes the communities of Lake Forest, Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon and Rancho Santa Margarita, and a population of over 400,000 people.

In February 1993, twenty-one years after the first meeting, ground was broken for the new church. On September 14, 1993 in a simple ceremony, the “cornerstone” was laid in the foundation of the church, near the church entrance.  The building went up without complication or delay. The first service in the new church was held in December, 1994.

Rancho Santa Margarita eventually became a city, and on October 17, 2000, the name of the church was changed to First Church of Christ, Scientist, Rancho Santa Margarita.  In February 2006 the church was dedicated, free of debt, to the glory of God.

“…..all things are possible to God,…” 

Science and Health pg.1:2