The Christian Science Church reminds us of an Augusta woman who lived in the nineteenth century - Ursula Newall Gestefeld.  She became an early follower of Mary Baker Eddy’s Christian Science Church and joined the movement in 1884, after she moved to Chicago.  Mrs. Gestefeld was a student of Eddy’s, but was later denounced by the church founder because of theological differences.  Mrs. Gestefled became disenchanted with Eddy’s faith and broke off to join the Church of New Thought, where she became a leader.   The Church of New Thought is a faith based on logic and reason and one of the religious groups associated with nineteenth century Transcendentalism.  Phineas Parkhurst Quimby, known as the founder of the New Thought, lived most of his life in Maine, where he developed and practiced his faith and healing.  Mary Baker Eddy is reported to have been a patient of his.  The Christian Science movement specifically did not appear in Augusta until 1910, and the area church was not established until 1934, but the present-day edifice reminds us of an Augusta woman who became a leader in a nineteenth century faith movement.



Site # 3.1 Sources:

	Judah, J. Stillson. The History and Philosophy of the Metaphysical Movements in America. Philadelphia, PA: The Westminster Press, 1967.
	Agger, Lee. Women of Maine. Portland, ME: Guy Gannett Publishing Co., 1982.
	Faith Communities of Augusta, Maine Past and Present. A City Bicentennial Project under the auspices of the Augusta Clergy Association, 1997.
	New Thought Movement Home Page.  Online resource available at http://websyte.com/alan/index.htm. Accessed 6 June 2001.
	Phineas Parkhurst - Quimby "The Father Of New Thought." On line resource available at http://www.websyte.com/Alan/Quimby.htm. Accessed 6 June. 2001.