List of former Christian Science churches, societies and buildings

List of former Christian Science churches, societies, buildings, etc. Some are on the National Register of Historic Places

In spite of its early meteoric rise, it appears likely that the Christian Science Church has suffered a decline in membership over recent decades. Though the Church is prohibited by the Manual of The Mother Church from publishing membership figures, the number of branch churches in the United States has fallen steadily since World War II. A 1992 study of the "Christian Research Journal" found that church membership had fallen from 269,000 in the 1930s to about 150,000. [ [http://www.equip.org/site/c.muI1LaMNJrE/b.2713939/k.B1A1/DC375.htm Study] ] Some believe membership has fallen further since then, however current estimates for church membership vary widely, from under 100,000 to 400,000.

Dr. Stephen Barrett has reported that since 1971, the number of practitioners and teachers listed in the Christian Science Journal has fallen from about 5,000 to about 1,160 and the number of churches has fallen from about 1,800 to about 1,000. [ [http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/cs.html Barrett] ]

The purpose of this list is to quantify and identify this decline in Christian Science institutions and those related to Christian Science. While it is impossible to get accurate membership figures, it is possible to determine the decline in institutions through official church publications and other sources.

Dissolved churches and societies

Arkansas

*First Church of Christ, Scientist (Little Rock, Arkansas), became the Little Rock Community Church.

California

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Los Angeles, California) is now the Iglesia Adventista Central. For a time in the 1970s it served as the Los Angeles branch of the ill-fated Peoples Temple led by the Rev. Jim Jones. [ [http://www.theblq.org/places/ Byzantine Latino Quarter Foundation- Places] ]
* Second Church of Christ, Scientist (Long Beach, California), is now the Second Samoan Church.

Colorado

*Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist (Denver, Colorado), is now the Zen Center of Denver.

Florida

*First Church of Christ, Scientist, Fort Pierce, Florida, on January 31 1996, sold its church edifice at 911 Sunrise Boulevard for $110,000 to The Pentecostal Church of God in America, Florida District, Inc., d/b/a Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church of God, by warranty deed recorded in Official Records Book 997, page 2392, St. Lucie County, Florida, public records, as accessed online September 5 2007. [ [http://oncore.slcclerkofcourt.com/oncorewebpublic/Search.aspx St. Lucie County Records] ] The church is no longer in existence. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 101.]
*First Church of Christ Scientist, Holmes Beach, Florida, voluntary dissolution, April 5 2004 [ [http://www.sunbiz.org/COR/2004/0413/H0071490.Tif Florida Corporate Records] ]
*First Church of Christ, Scientist (Jacksonville, Florida) was voluntarily dissolved on August 10 1993 [ [http://www.sunbiz.org/scripts/cordet.exe?action=N&inq_came_from=NAMFWD&inq_doc_number=719421&cor_web_names_seq_number=0000&names_name_ind=N&fei_fei_number=&fei_cor_number=&princ_cor_number=&princ_type=&princ_seq=&princ_comp_name=&names_comp_name=FIRSTCHURCHCHRISTSCIENT&names_cor_number=&names_name_ind=N&names_name_seq=&names_filing_type= Florida Corporate Records] ] Its edifice at 1116 North Laura Street (now 101 West 1st Street) is now the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum. [Wood, Wayne W., Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage, revised edition 1996, Gainesville: University Press of Florida. p. 198]
*First Church of Christ, Scientist, Lake Worth, Florida voluntary dissolution,May 7, 2004 [ [http://www.sunbiz.org/scripts/cordet.exe?action=N&inq_came_from=NAMFWD&inq_doc_number=721618&cor_web_names_seq_number=0001&names_name_ind=N&fei_fei_number=&fei_cor_number=&princ_cor_number=&princ_type=&princ_seq=&princ_comp_name=&names_comp_name=FIRSTCHURCHCHRISTSCIENT&names_cor_number=&names_name_ind=N&names_name_seq=&names_filing_type= Florida Corporate Records] ]

Indiana

* First Church of Christ, Scientist, Huntington, Indiana, is now the Dan Quayle Center [ [http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/INHUNquayle.html Dan Quayle Center] ]

Illinois

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Chicago) is now Grant Memorial AME Church.

Iowa

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Anita, Iowa) in now the Anita Public Library.
* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Fairfield, Iowa) is now St. Gabriel and All Angels Liberal Catholic Church.
* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Marshalltown, Iowa) was bulldozed in August, 1985. [ [http://www.prairieschooltraveler.com/rip/rip.html The Prairie School Traveler - RIP ] ]
* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Mason City, Iowa) is now professional offices.

Minnesota

*First Church of Christ, Scientist (Fairmont, Minnesota): its first building is now the "Red Rock Center for the Arts".
*First Church of Christ, Scientist (Minneapolis, Minnesota) is now vacant.

New Jersey

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Maplewood, New Jersey) is now the Burgdorff Cultural Center and a realtor office.

Ohio

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Lakewood, Ohio) is now the 15422 LTD Building.
* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Sandusky, Ohio) is now "Emmanuel Temple Church", affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World.
* Third Church of Christ, Scientist (Cleveland, Ohio) was vacant in 1987 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is no longer listed in the Journal. [The Christian Science Journal, December 2007, p. 111]

Oregon

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Forest Grove, Oregon) is no longer an active Christian Science congregation. [The Christian Science Journal, December 2007, p. 111] [ [http://www.christianscienceusa.com/or.html Christian Science Church listings for Oregon] ]
* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Portland, Oregon) is now the Northwest Neighborhood Cultural Center (NWNCC). [ [http://www.portlandmaps.com/detail.cfm?action=Assessor&propertyid=R140879&state_id=1N1E33DB%20%202800&address_id=626139&intersection_id=&dynamic_point=0&x=7640947&y=685172&place=1819%20NW%20EVERETT%20ST&city=PORTLAND&neighborhood=NORTHWEST%20DISTRICT&seg_id=113427 City of Portland Assessment Map] ]

Texas

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Paris, Texas) is now vacant.

Utah

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Provo, Utah) is now the Provo Community Theater. [ [http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/216524/ Daily Herald - Don't give up on St. Francis ] ]
* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Salt Lake City, Utah) is no longer listed in the Christian Science Journal, [The Christian Science Journal, December 2007, p. 114]

Washington

* Fifth Church of Christ, Scientist (Seattle, Washington) is now the Rainier Valley Cultural Center.

Wisconsin

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Neillsville, Wisconsin) [The Christian Science Journal, December, 2007, p. 116]

Churches and societies that were merged into another church or society

* First Church of Christ, Scientist, Hollywood, Florida [ [http://www.sunbiz.org/scripts/cordet.exe?action=DETFIL&inq_doc_number=N97000003917&inq_came_from=NAMFWD&cor_web_names_seq_number=0000&names_name_ind=N&names_cor_number=703726&names_name_seq=0001&names_name_ind=N&names_comp_name=FIRSTCHURCHCHRISTSCIENTISTDUNE&names_filing_type= Florida Corporate Records] ] , with Christian Science Society (Hollywood, Florida) [The Christian Science Journal, February 2007, p. 101.]
* First Church of Christ, Scientist (New York, New York), built in 1904, at One West 96th Street at Central Park West by Augusta Emma Stetson, in retaliation for the construction of Second Church of Christ, Scientist (New York, New York) at 10 West 68th Street at Central Park West, which she had opposed. Eventually Mrs. Stetson was excommunicated from the Christian Science Church. In 2003 First Church, whose building at 96th Street has been called the most sumptuous church in New York City, merged with Second Church. The merged congregation now uses the name First Church, but worships at the former Second Church on 68th Street. The former First Church at 96th Street was for sale. [ [http://www.nyc-architecture.com/UWS/UWS041.htm New York Architecture Images- First Church of Christ, Scientist ] ] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE5D9133DF933A25754C0A9659C8B63&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss NY Times] ] [ [http://www.thecityreview.com/uws/cpw/96w1.html The Upper West Side Book: Central Park West: The First Church of Christ, Scientist: 1 West 96th Street ] ] [ [http://www.thecityreview.com/uws/cpw/secondch.html Second Church NY, NY] ] It is the "Crenshaw Christian Center, NYC"'. [ [http://www.pbase.com/hjsteed/image/78435520 Crenshaw Christian Center East photo - Hubert Steed photos at pbase.com ] ] [ [http://www.nycago.org/Organs/NYC/html/CrenshawChristianCenter.html Crenshaw Christian Center] ]

Churches that were downgraded to societies

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Grinnell, Iowa) is now Christian Science Society (Grinnell, Iowa)
* First Church of Christ, Scientist, Hudson, New York, is now Christian Science Society (Hudson, New York}. [ [http://www.christiansciencenys.com/hudson.html Christian Science Society, Hudson, New York web page] ]
*First Church of Christ, Scientist (Oconto, Wisconsin) on the National Register, is now Christian Science Society, Oconto, Wisconsin. ["The Christian Science Journal", February 2007, p. 116]

Churches and societies that sold their buildings but did not dissolve

Arizona

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Phoenix, Arizona). Its former building at 924 North First Street, which is listed on the National Register, is now Roosevelt Community Church. First Church is now located at 830 North Central Avenue. [."The Christian Science Journal", December 2007, p. 96.]

Florida

*First Church of Christ, Scientist (Orlando, Florida), Its former building at 24 North Rosalind Avenue, which is listed on the National Register, is now St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church. [ [http://www.flheritage.com/services/sites/fht/record_t.cfm?ID=635&type=c&index=48 Florida Heritage] ] First Church is now located at 915 North Ferncreek . ["The Christian Science Journal", February 2007, p. 102.]

Iowa

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Davenport, Iowa) Its building at 636 Kirkwood is now the Harvest Time Family Worship Center. First Church now meets at 3705 Fairhaven Road.

Massachusetts

* The former Christian Science Church at 805 Main Street, Chatham, Massachusetts, is now the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House of Chatham. [ [http://www.uumh.net/history.htm UU Meeting House of Chatham website] ] There is a CS Jounal listing for First Church, Harwich-Chatham, located in Harwich Port, Massachusetts. ["The Christian Science Journal", December, 2007, p. 106.]

*First Church of Christ, Scientist (Newton, Massachusetts) in September, 2004, sold its building at 391 Walnut Street for $1,050,000 to be converted into apartments. [ [http://www.ci.newton.ma.us/assessors2003/Interactivemap.asp?id=24017+0003 Newton City Records] ] First Church now holds services in rented rooms at 300 Walnut Street. ["The Christian Science Journal", February, 2007, p. 106.]

Nevada

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Reno, Nevada) is now the Lear Theater. First Church now meets at 795 West Peckham Lane.

Ohio

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Cleveland, Ohio) is now the headquarters of Nottingham•Spirk Design Associates. First Church is now loacted at 3181 Fairmount Boulevard.
* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Toledo, Ohio) at 2704 Monroe Street became Universal Community Church. First Church is now located at 4647 West Central Avenue.

Oklahoma

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is now vacant. First church meets at 4700 North Portland.

Pennsylvania

* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) at 635 Clyde Street, designed by Solon Spencer Beman was sold to the University of Pittsburgh and is now Pitt's University Child Development Center. First Church now meets at 201 North Dithridge. [The Christian Science Journal, December 2007, p. 112]
* First Church of Christ, Scientist (Scranton, Pennsylvania) at 520 Vine Street was sold and is now the Lackawanna County Children's Library. First Church is now Christian Science Society, Scranton, and meets at 335 North Washington Avenue. [The Christian Science Journal, December 2007, p. 112]

Washington

* Seventh Church of Christ, Scientist (Seattle, Washington) sold its 1926 edifice at 2555 8th Avenue, West for $1.6 million in 2007 to the Seattle Church of Christ.

Wisconsin

*Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) sold its historic church building at 3069 North Downer Avenue to the Chinese Christian Church of Milwaukee. It now holds services at 2011 East Capitol Drive in Shorewood, Wisconsin. [ [http://www.mkedcd.org/planning/hpc/reports/FourthChurchChristScientist.pdf Historic Designation study report] ] [http://www.cccm.net/english_home.html Chinese Christian Church] ] [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 116]

Churches in Transition

* Alvin, Texas, First Church at 713 South Lee Street is listed for sale as vacant as of December 7, 2007. [ [http://www.loopnet.com/Texas/Alvin/?LinkCode=18400 Special Purpose Property] ] The February 2007 Christian Science Journal listed a Christian Science Society at that address.

Independent or secessionist churches

*Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent, located in Plainfield, New Jersey, in 1987 won a 10-year court battle to use its present title. It was formerly First Church of Christ, Scientist (Plainfield, New Jersey), [ [http://www.plainfieldhealingthoughts.com/ Plainfield Christian Science Church ] ]

Other related institutions and sites

* Camp Sangamon and its sister camp, Camp Betsey Cox, both located in Pittsford, Vermont, were originally run by Christian Scientists for the children of Christian Scientists. Today there are no religious restrictions. [ [http://www.campsangamon.com/camp/ Camp Sangamon A Summer Camp for Boys in Vermont ] ]
* Christian Science Benevolent Association on the West Coast, was one of 2 BAs operated by the Mother Church.In 1973, it was turned over to a local group of Christian Scientists who continue to operate it as Arden Wood nursing home. [ [http://www.cshomes.org/Arden_Wood_San_Francisco_CA.html Christian Science Residential Home - Arden Wood, San Francisco, CA ] ]
* Daycroft School in Greenwich, Connecticut, closed in 1991.
* Mary Baker Eddy's last Home, in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts less most of its furnishings and artifacts was sold in 2006 to the Longyear Museum operated by a private group of Christian Scientists. [ [http://www.longyear.org/housefaqs.html Longyear Museum | The Museum | Frequently asked questions about Mary Baker Eddy's former homes ] ]
* Mary Baker Eddy Birthplace Monument, Bow, New Hampshire The large granite monument erected on the site was dynamited by order of the CS Board of Directors. [ [http://www.angelfire.com/sc3/csresources/pyramid.htm Healing The Sick A Means, Not An End ] ]
* Pleasant View in Concord, New Hampshire, was Mary Baker Eddy's last home before moving to Chestnut Hill. It was destroyed by the CS Board of Directors and all evidence of it was buried. The Directors later built a charitable retirement home for aged Christian Science practitioners. It and the large estate on which it stood were sold to the State of New Hampshire, which later sold the building to a secular group which operates it as a profit-making retirement home. [ [http://www.angelfire.com/sc3/csresources/pyramid.htm Healing The Sick A Means, Not An End ] ] [ [http://www.pleasantviewretirement.com/pages/about.html Pleasant View Retirement About Us ] ]

Missing churches

"Note": Following the custom of early New England Congregational and Baptist churches, Churches of Christ, Scientist, in a city or town are numbered "First", Second", Third", etc. Societies are not numbered, however. Since all churches and societies are listed in the monthly Christian Science Journal, it is possible to determine the numbers of most but not all missing churches. For example, if a city has listings for only second and fourth churches, it is obvious that first and third are missing. To be certain that fifth church is missing, though, it would be necessary to make sure that there was in fact a fifth church.

A-B-C

* Berlin, Germany Fourth through Tenth [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 90]
* Birmingham, England First. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 95]
* Chicago, Illinois First, Third through Sixth, Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth through Fifteenth. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 103]
* Cleveland, Ohio Second Church. [The Christian Science Journal, December, 2007, p. 111]

D-E-F

* Dallas, Texas First, Second, Fourth and Sixth [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 113]
* Denver, Colorado Second through Fifth [The Christian Science Journal, February,2007, p. 100]
* El Paso, Texas Second [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p.113]
* Evanston, Illinois, First. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 103]

G-H-I

* Houston, Texas Second, Third, Fifth and Sixth. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, pp. 113-114]
* Indianapolis, Indiana Second. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 104]

J-K-L

* Jacksonville, Florida, Third. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 101]
* Kansas City, Missouri First through Third, Fifth, Eighth and Ninth. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 107-108]
* Leeds, West Yorkshire, England Second. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 95]
* Liverpool, England First and Second. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 95]
* London, England, Fourth through Tenth [The Christian Science Journal, February 2007, p.94]
* Long Beach, California Second and Third. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 98]
* Los Angeles, California First, Fourth, Seventh, Eighth, Eleventh, Fifteenth through Nineteenth, Twenty-First through Twenty-Seventh, Twenty-Ninth through Thirty-Fifth, Thirty-Seventh, Thirty-Ninth, Fortieth, and Forty-Second churches. [The Christian Science Journal, February 2007, p. 98]

M-N-O

* Manchester, England First and Third. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 94]
* Milwaukee, Wisconsin First and Second. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 116]
* Minneapolis, Minnesota Fourth through Sixth. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 107]
* New York, New York: (First & Second, see Mergers above), Fourth, Sixth, and Eleventh. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 110]
* Oakland, California Second through Ninth. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 98]

P-Q-R

* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Third through Fifth. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 112]
* Plainfield, New Jersey First, "see" Independent or secessionist churches "above".
* Portland, Oregon First through Fifth, Seventh and Ninth. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 112]
* Pretoria, South Africa First. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 93]

-T-U-V

* Sacramento, California Third and Fourth. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 99]
* Saint Louis, Missouri, Second through Fifth and Seventh. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 108]
* San Antonio, Texas, Second [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p.114]
* San Diego, California Third and Fifth. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 99]
* San Francisco, California Third and Sixth through Eighth.. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 99]
* São Paulo, Brazil, Third [The Christian Science Journal,February, 2007, p. 88]
* Seattle, Washington Second, Fourth through Sixth, Eighth, Ninth and Eleventh. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 115]
* Thunder Bay, Ontario First [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 89]
* Toronto, Ontario, Second through Fourth [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 89]
* Tulsa, Oklahoma Second through Fifth. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 111]
* Tucson, Arizona Second. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 96]
* Vancouver, British Columbia, First and Third [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p.88]

W-X-Y-Z

* Washington, D.C. Second. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 101]
* Whittier, California First. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 100]
* Worcester, Massachusetts First. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 106]
* Worthing, West Sussex, England, First. [The Christian Science Journal, February, 2007, p. 95]

Gallery

ee also

*First Church of Christ, Scientist (disambiguation)
*Second Church of Christ, Scientist (disambiguation
*Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist (disambiguation

References