First Church of Christ, Scientist (Cambridge, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids First Church of Christ, Scientist |
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The church on March 15, 2009
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Town or city | 13 Waterhouse Street Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Country | United States |
| Construction started | 1924 |
| Completed | 1930 |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | 6 story (including basement) redbrick with copper clad dome |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Giles M. Smith of Bigelow and Wadsworth |
| Engineer | Guastavino Fireproof Construction Company, dome |
The First Church of Christ, Scientist is a historic church building in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is made of red brick and has a large dome. You can find it at 13 Waterhouse Street. This church belongs to the Christian Science faith.
A church member named Giles M. Smith designed the building in 1917. He worked for a well-known architecture firm in Boston. Smith designed the church to look like famous buildings. These included Thomas Jefferson's Rotunda at the University of Virginia and the ancient Pantheon in Rome.
Building the Church
Building the church took place in two main parts. This was because of money limits. Construction started in 1924 and finished in 1930. The first part included the basement and ground floor. These levels were topped with a decorative stone band.
The second part added four more stories and the huge dome. The dome itself was designed and built by the famous Guastavino Fireproof Construction Company. This company was known for its special tile work. They had also worked on the dome of The Rotunda at UVA in 1898. In 1906, they built the dome for the Mother Church Extension in Boston.
The Special Dome
Guastavino used its special tile system for the dome. Inside, they used a porous ceramic material called Akoustolith. This material looked like stone. The outside of the dome was made of limestone. The tiles were made at their factory in nearby Woburn.
In 1933, copper was added to the outside of the dome. This was done to fix a problem with leaks. A round opening at the top, called an oculus, lets light into the church. The first church services in the finished building were held on April 30, 1930. The church was officially dedicated on May 23, 1937, after all its building debts were paid off.
Still an Active Church
The First Church of Christ, Scientist still uses this building today. It continues to be an active part of the Christian Science Mother Church.
