The First Church of Christ, Scientist

The First Church of Christ, Scientist
photograph
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.
Map
42°20′40″N 71°05′06″W / 42.34443°N 71.084872°W / 42.34443; -71.084872
LocationChristian Science Center
250 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts[1]
DenominationChristian Science
WebsiteThe First Church of Christ, Scientist
History
Founder(s)Mary Baker Eddy
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architect(s)Franklin I. Welch (1894)
Charles Brigham (1904–1906)
S.S. Beman (1904–1906)
Architectural typeRomanesque (Original Mother Church); Italian Renaissance (Mother Church Extension)[2]
Groundbreaking1893
Completed1894 (Original Mother Church)
1906 (Mother Church Extension)[2]
Specifications
Capacity900 (Original Mother Church)
3,000 (Mother Church Extension)[2]
Dome height (outer)224 ft (68 m)[2]

The First Church of Christ, Scientist is the administrative headquarters and mother church of the Church of Christ, Scientist, also known as the Christian Science church. Christian Science was founded in the 19th century in Lynn, Massachusetts, by Mary Baker Eddy with the publication of her book Science and Health (1875).

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, is located in the 13.5-acre Christian Science Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts. The center is owned by the church and contains the Original Mother Church (1894); Mother Church Extension (1906); Christian Science Publishing House (1934), which houses the Mary Baker Eddy Library; Reflection Hall (1971); Administration Building (1972); and Colonnade Building (1972). There is also a reflecting pool and fountain.[2]

  1. ^ "Christian Science Center Complex", Boston Landmarks Commission, Environment Department, City of Boston, 25 January 2011, p. 1.
  2. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference Christian Science Center was invoked but never defined (see the help page).