First Church of Christ, Scientist (New York City) facts for kids
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First Church of Christ, Scientist
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Former building of the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Manhattan, New York City
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1 West 96th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States |
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| Built | 1903 |
| Architect | Carrère and Hastings |
| Architectural style | English Baroque, French Beaux-Arts |
| Part of | Central Park West Historic District (ID82001189) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 9, 1982 |
The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Manhattan is a historic building. It was built in 1903. You can find it at Central Park West and 96th Street in New York City. This building is a special landmark in New York City.
Contents
Building Design
The building was designed by a famous architecture firm called Carrère & Hastings. It was finished in 1903. An expert named Christopher Gray called it "one of the city's most beautiful churches."
Architectural Style
The church's design mixes two styles: English Baroque and French Beaux-Arts. These styles make the building look grand and detailed.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church had amazing features. It had colorful stained-glass windows made by John LaFarge. One window, called "Touch Me Not," showed a scene from the Bible.
The interior also featured shiny mosaics and gold-plated chandeliers. The floors were made of marble. The pews, which are church benches, were curved and made from a special wood called Circassian walnut. There were even large elevators, big enough for 20 people!
Landmark Status
Because of its unique design, the church became a New York City landmark in 1974. It is also part of the Central Park West Historic District. This means it's an important historical building.
What the Building is Used For
Over the years, the building has had different owners and uses.
Changes in Ownership
In 2004, the building was sold to the Crenshaw Christian Center. The original church group joined with another Christian Science church.
Later, in June 2014, the Crenshaw Christian Center sold the building. A company bought it for $26 million. They wanted to turn the large building into apartments. However, their plan was not approved by the city.
Children's Museum of Manhattan
In January 2018, the Children's Museum of Manhattan announced exciting news. They bought the former church building for $45 million. The city helped with $5.5 million for renovations.
A company called FXCollaborative was hired to update the building. There were some discussions about the renovation plans. But in June 2020, the museum's plans were approved. The museum showed pictures of what the renovated building would look like. As of August 2025, the museum is planning to move into its new home in 2028.
The Original Church Group
The First Church of Christ, Scientist group started in 1886. It was organized by Augusta Emma Stetson. The church group gave Stetson a piece of land next to the church. She lived there in a house.
Her house was later taken down in 1930. An apartment building was built in its place. Before the church building was finished, the group met in rented spaces.
