The Christian Science Center is a site on the corner of

Massachusetts Avenue Massachusetts Avenue may refer to: * Massachusetts Avenue (metropolitan Boston), Massachusetts ** Massachusetts Avenue (MBTA Orange Line station), a subway station on the MBTA Orange Line ** Massachusetts Avenue (MBTA Silver Line station), a stati ...

and

Huntington Avenue Huntington Avenue is a secondary thoroughfare in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, beginning at Copley Square, and continuing west through the Back Bay, Fenway, Longwood, and Mission Hill neighborhoods. Huntington Avenue is signed as Route 9 ...

in the

Fenway Fenway Park is a baseball stadium located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, near Kenmore Square. Since 1912, it has been the home of the Boston Red Sox, the city's American League baseball team, and Boston Braves (baseball), since 1953, i ...

neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. A popular tourist attraction, the center is owned by the

Church of Christ, Scientist The Church of Christ, Scientist was founded in 1879 in Boston, Massachusetts, by Mary Baker Eddy, author of '' Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,'' and founder of Christian Science. The church was founded "to commemorate the word an ...

(the

Christian Science Christian Science is a set of beliefs and practices associated with members of the Church of Christ, Scientist. Adherents are commonly known as Christian Scientists or students of Christian Science, and the church is sometimes informally know ...

church), which refers to it as Christian Science Plaza. The complex, including most of the landscape was designated as a

Boston Landmark A Boston Landmark is a designation by the Boston Landmarks Commission for historic buildings and sites throughout the city of Boston based on the grounds that it has historical, social, cultural, architectural or aesthetic significance to New Engla ...

by the

Boston Landmarks Commission The Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC) is the historic preservation agency for the City of Boston. The commission was created by state legislation i1975 History Urban renewal in the United States started with the Housing Act of 1949, part of Preside ...

in 2011. The site houses the religion's administrative center and its Mother Church,

The First Church of Christ, Scientist 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, Massachuset ...

."Christian Science Center Complex"
Boston Landmarks Commission, Environment Department, City of Boston, 25 January 2011 (hereafter Boston Landmarks Commission 2011).

Buildings

The Christian Science Center comprises of open space, a 690 x 100 ft (210 x 30 m)

reflecting pool A reflecting pool, also called a reflection pool, is a water feature found in gardens, parks, and memorial sites. It usually consists of a shallow pool of water, undisturbed by fountain jets, for a reflective surface. Design Reflecting pools are ...

, a children's fountain, and six buildings: *The First Church of Christ, Scientist, 250 Massachusetts Avenue, consisting of two buildings: the original Mother Church (1894) and the Church Extension (1906). *Christian Science Publishing House (1934), 200–210 Massachusetts Avenue, built for the

Christian Science Publishing Society The Christian Science Publishing Society was established in 1898 by Mary Baker Eddy and is the publishing arm of The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts. Origin and purpose The Christian Science Publishing Society and t ...

, and now also housing the

Mary Baker Eddy Library The Mary Baker Eddy Library is a research library, museum, and repository for the papers of Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science. The library is located on the Christian Science Center, Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, a ...

Mapparium The Mapparium is a three-story-tall globe made of stained glass that is viewed from a bridge through its interior. As of August 2021, it is part of the "How Do You See the World?" exhibit of the Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston, Mas ...

, ''

The Christian Science Monitor ''The Christian Science Monitor'' (''CSM''), commonly known as ''The Monitor'', is a nonprofit news organization that publishes daily articles in electronic format as well as a weekly print edition. It was founded in 1908 as a daily newspaper ...

'' and the church's administrative staff. *Three buildings, designed by

Araldo Cossutta Araldo Cossutta (January 11, 1925 – February 24, 2017) was an architect who worked primarily in the United States. He worked at the firm I. M. Pei & Partners from 1956 to 1973. I. M. Pei has been among the most honored architects in the world. ...

of I. M. Pei & Associates, constructed when the site was extended in the 1970s: **Reflection Hall, the former Sunday School building (1971), 235 Huntington Avenue, at one end of the reflecting pool. **The Colonnade building (1972), 101 Belvidere Street. ** 177 Huntington, formerly the Administration Building (1972). This 26-story building housed the church's administrative staff until 2008, when they moved to Christian Science Publishing House.Boston Landmarks Commission 2011
pp. 1, 5–6, 18."Christian Science Plaza Revitalization Project Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC)"
Boston Redevelopment Authority. The building is now leased out as office space.Boston Landmarks Commission 2011
p. 72.

Gallery

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, aerial shot (2), 19 July 2011.jpg,

and ''(left)'' Reflection Hall Christian Science Church and Reflection, Boston, Massachusetts.JPG, Mother Church, Colonnade building, reflecting pool USA 09568 Boston Luca Galuzzi 2007.jpg, ''(left)'' Colonnade building and ''(right)'' 177 Huntington Avenue, former administration building The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, October 1974.jpg, ''(left)'' the Mother Church, reflecting pool and ''(right)'' 177 Huntington Avenue Christian Science Publishing Society, October 2009, Boston MA.jpg, Christian Science Publishing House Mary Baker Eddy Library, Boston, 10 July 2014.jpg,

, part of Christian Science Publishing House Reflection Hall-Christian Science Ctr-2015.JPG, Reflection Hall (1973). Originally named the "Sunday School Building"

References

{{Coord, 42.3445, -71.0843, type:landmark_region:US-MA, display=title 1890s architecture in the United States 1900s architecture in the United States 1930s architecture in the United States 1970s architecture in the United States Religious buildings and structures in Boston Christian Science in Massachusetts Landmarks in Fenway–Kenmore

Buildings

Gallery

See also

References