The First Church of Christ, Scientist facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The First Church of Christ, Scientist
The original Mother Church (1894) and behind it the domed Mother Church Extension (1906); on the right, the Colonnade building (1972). The reflecting pool is in the foreground.
42°20′40″N 71°05′06″W / 42.34443°N 71.084872°W / 42.34443; -71.084872
Location	Christian Science Center 250 Massachusetts Avenue Boston, Massachusetts
Denomination	Christian Science
Website	The First Church of Christ, Scientist
History
Founder(s)	Mary Baker Eddy
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Franklin I. Welch (1894) Charles Brigham (1904–1906) S.S. Beman (1904–1906)
Architectural type	Romanesque (Original Mother Church); Italian Renaissance (Mother Church Extension)
Groundbreaking	1893
Completed	1894 (Original Mother Church) 1906 (Mother Church Extension)
Specifications
Capacity	900 (Original Mother Church) 3,000 (Mother Church Extension)
Dome height (outer)	224 ft (68 m)

The First Church of Christ, Scientist is the main church and office for the Christian Science religion. This religion was started in the 1800s by Mary Baker Eddy in Lynn, Massachusetts. She wrote an important book called Science and Health in 1875.

The church is located in Boston, Massachusetts, on a large 13.5-acre area called the Christian Science Plaza. This area has several important buildings. These include the first church building (finished in 1894), a much larger church extension (finished in 1906), and the Christian Science Publishing House (1934), which now holds the Mary Baker Eddy Library. The plaza also features a cool reflecting pool and fountain.

History of the Mother Church

The first church building, known as the Original Mother Church, was finished in December 1894. Franklin I. Welch was the architect who designed it. Interestingly, the very first Christian Science church was built earlier in Oconto, Wisconsin, by local women. They felt that the religion had helped them.

Original Mother Church (1894)

The Original Mother Church is a stone building designed in the Romanesque Revival style. It was quite large for its time. However, it often looks small because it is next to the much bigger Mother Church Extension.

This first church was built to fit on a kite-shaped piece of land. It has a tall steeple that is 126 feet (38 meters) high. Inside, the main room is octagonal and can seat 900 people. The building is made from granite stone that came from New Hampshire, which was Mary Baker Eddy's home state.

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, on September 6, 1937.

Mother Church Extension (1906)

The Mother Church Extension was added between 1904 and 1906. Charles Brigham first designed it. However, S. S. Beman took over the construction in 1905 because Brigham became ill. Beman made big changes to the design. He reduced the Byzantine elements. Instead, he made the domed building look more like the Neoclassical style. Beman believed this style was best for Christian Science churches.

This extension has one of the world's largest pipe organs. It was built in 1952 by the Aeolian-Skinner Company in Boston. The main worship area, called the sanctuary, is on the second floor. It can hold about 3,000 people.

Christian Science Plaza Buildings

The 13.5-acre (55,000 m²) Christian Science Plaza was designed in the 1960s. The firm I.M. Pei & Partners created the design. This plaza is along Huntington Avenue and is one of Boston's most famous spots. It is also a popular place for tourists to visit.

Buildings on the Plaza

The plaza includes several important buildings:

• A large administration building.
• A colonnade (a row of columns).
• A reflecting pool and fountain.
• Reflection Hall, which used to be the Sunday School building.

Mary Baker Eddy Library

The Mary Baker Eddy Library is located on the plaza. It is inside an 11-story building that was first built for the Christian Science Publishing Society. This building was constructed between 1932 and 1934. It is designed in the neoclassical style.

Inside this building is the Mapparium. This is a unique, walk-through, inside-out globe of the world from 1934. The Mapparium has become a historic landmark in Boston's Back Bay area. Work to restore the library's part of the building began in 1998. The final renovations were finished in 2002.

Branch Churches Around the World

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, also known as The Mother Church, has many branch churches. These branches are located all over the world. According to the Manual of The Mother Church, The Mother Church is the only Christian Science church that uses "the" in its name.

Naming Branch Churches

Branch churches are named "First Church of Christ, Scientist," "Second Church of Christ, Scientist," and so on. This is followed by the name of the city. The number shows the order in which they were built in that city. For example, you might see Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago.

Carol Norton, who was a student and teacher of Christian Science, explained how The Mother Church and its branch churches work together. He said it's like the relationship between the United States federal government and the individual states. In his booklet The Christian Science Movement, he wrote that branch churches manage their own affairs. However, they all agree to follow the main beliefs of The Mother Church.

Gallery

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  Original Mother Church (1894)

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  Original church with the domed Mother Church Extension (1906)

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  Mother Church Extension, original Mother Church, reflecting pool, and the Administration Building (1972)

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  Mother Church Extension