First Church of Christ, Scientist (Minneapolis) facts for kids
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First Church of Christ, Scientist
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The First Church of Christ, Scientist from the south
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 614-620 15th Street East, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1897 |
| Architect | Septimus J. Bowler |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts, Renaissance, Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001340 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 20, 1986 |
The First Church of Christ, Scientist building in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was a very important building. It was the first church of its kind in the entire state. This historic building was located at 614-620 15th Street East, in the Elliott Park neighborhood. When it was built, it was surrounded by beautiful Victorian homes.
A Minneapolis architect named S. J. Bowler designed the church. He used a style called the Doric order, which is a type of Classical architecture. The front of the building had a large porch, called a portico, with two tall, grooved columns. These columns held up a triangular roof section, known as a pediment.
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A Special Building: National Register Listing
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 20, 1986. This is a special list of places in the United States that are important because of their history, architecture, or what happened there. Being on this list means the building was recognized for its unique design and its role in the community's religious history. The architect, S.J. Bowler, was noted for his work on the building.
What Happened Recently?
After being used as a church, the building became a performance space for a group called the Margolis Brown Adaptors Company. They called it the 'Physical Theatre Lab'. However, the building became empty in 2001. Over the years, it started to get serious damage, especially to its roof and brick walls. It also had many safety problems. In 2007, a local real estate agent tried to sell the church to someone who would fix it up.
On January 28, 2012, a group called 'Minneapolis Space Liberation' briefly took over the church. This was part of a bigger movement. About 50 people stayed in the church for 45 minutes. They had a dance party and shared food. This action was done to support a similar event in Oakland and to show people how many empty and uncared-for buildings there were in the city.
The building became a bit of a problem for the neighborhood. It attracted people who didn't have homes and others who wanted to spray paint on the walls. But many people also saw it as a chance to restore a beautiful old building. Minneapolis had torn down many historic buildings in the 1960s, so some hoped this one could be saved.
The End of the Building: Demolition
Eventually, a company called Weidner Apartment Homes bought the land where the church stood. They said the building was too damaged to be fixed and would cause problems for new apartments they wanted to build nearby. They asked for permission to tear it down. The city first said no to their plan.
The disagreement went to the Minnesota Court of Appeals. The court decided that the city was wrong to stop the demolition. So, the historic church building was torn down in 2022.
The Congregation's New Home
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, congregation built a second church building in 1914. This new building was located at 24th and Nicollet. It was designed by another famous Minneapolis architect, Harry Wild Jones. Today, this building is home to the Minneapolis First Seventh-day Adventist Church.
See also
- List of former Christian Science churches, societies and buildings
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Hennepin County, Minnesota
