On the first Sunday of June 1951, Dr. William Hornaday began his Religious Science ministry at the Belmont Theater on Vermont Avenue at the request of Science of Mind Founder Dr. Ernest Holmes.

Two short months later, the congregation was in a new and larger location, the Fox Uptown Theater. Eight months after that, on April 6, 1952, the crowds overflowed the Wiltern, one of the city's largest theaters, for the Palm Sunday service. That proved to be home for Founder's for the next eight years.

Dr. Hornaday then shared his vision of a permanent home for Founder's with Dr. Holmes and soon an agreement was reached with ground being broken for the present building in 1958. On October 18, 1958, Dr. Holmes laid the cornerstone.

On January 3, 1960, the dedication of Founder's Church, whose sanctuary seats 1,500, took place. Dr. Ernest Holmes gave the dedication address with Dr. Hornaday and Dr. Reginald Armor assisting. Four years later in 1964, the Holmes Memorial Chapel was completed which is located one floor below the sanctuary along with offices and a social hall. The chapel, site of numerous weddings, memorials, and special ceremonies, seats 420.

Founder's, which had always been a department of the parent United Church of Religious Science, finally became independent in 1982 when a proposal to the International Board was agreed upon and presented to the General Convention. By approval of that resolution, Founder's moved into its status as an independent congregation.