Christian Science Society (Nanaimo) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christian Science Society |
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![]() 20 Chapel Street, Nanaimo
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General information | |
Architectural style | Classical Revival. |
Town or city | Nanaimo, British Columbia |
Country | Canada |
Construction started | 1900-1910 built as house |
Completed | 1932 renovated to church |
Technical details | |
Structural system | 1-storey. frame, 1932 set on concrete foundation & stuccoed |
Design and construction | |
Architect | D.G. Edgell/Phil Forte |
The Christian Science Society Building is a special historic building located at 20 Chapel Street in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. It's a single-story building that serves as a Christian Science church.
This building has an interesting past. It wasn't always a church!
What is the Christian Science Society Building?
The Christian Science Society Building is a place where people who follow the Christian Science faith gather. It's a quiet and simple building that looks like it belongs to an older time.
It's known for its "Classical Period Revival" style. This means it has design elements inspired by ancient Greek and Roman buildings. Think of grand columns and balanced shapes, but in a simpler way for this building.
From Home to Church: A Building's Transformation
This building was first built between 1900 and 1910. Back then, it was a regular house where a family lived. It was even known as the McDonald Property.
But in 1932, something big happened. The house was changed into a church! This is called "adaptive re-use." It means taking an old building and giving it a completely new purpose.
To make it a church, the building was placed on a strong concrete base. Its outside walls were covered with a material called stucco, which gives it a smooth finish. Inside, everything was changed to make it suitable for church services.
Why is it a Heritage Site?
The city of Nanaimo recognized the Christian Science Society Building as a local heritage site on October 7, 2002. This means it's an important building worth protecting because of its history and design.
The city saw it as a great example of how old buildings can be given new life. They also appreciated its simple but clear "Classical Period Revival" style. Even though it's a modest building, it shows good design from that time.
Today, the Christian Science Society is still an active church. It continues to be a part of the Nanaimo community.