Discover the Architectural Legacy of Boston's First Church of Christ, Scientist
The First Church of Christ, Scientist was founded in 1879 by Mary Baker Eddy, but its first permanent home came fifteen years later. The original church building opened on December 30, 1894, designed by Franklin I. Welch. It was built to house a growing congregation and to establish a physical center for a movement that had spread quickly beyond Boston.
Growth outpaced the building almost immediately. Within a decade, plans were underway for a much larger expansion. The Mother Church Extension opened in June 1906, designed by Peabody and Stearns. The addition wrapped around the original structure and introduced the massive central dome, rising roughly 224 feet. At the time of its completion, it was one of the largest church domes in the world.
The design drew from Renaissance and Byzantine traditions, which was not accidental. The scale and materials were chosen to project permanence and legitimacy. Inside, the auditorium could seat thousands, reflecting both the size of the congregation and the ambition of the institution.
Mary Baker Eddy remained closely tied to the church during its expansion, though she did not live to see the full development of the surrounding complex. Over time, the site expanded into what is now the Christian Science Center, but the core of the complex remains these two structures from 1894 and 1906. Together, they mark the point where a relatively new religious movement made a very public architectural statement in Boston.
Matt Lambros Mar 18, 2026 Architecture History Religious Sites
Mar 18, 2026
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