First Church of Christ, Scientist (Scranton, Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, now also known as Lackawanna County Children's Library, is a building in Scranton, Pennsylvania
located at 520 Vine Street. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on May 9, 1988. The building, built in 1915, was listed for its Classical Revival architecture.
religious activity in Scranton dates from before 1890 when Judge Septimus J. Hanna
and his wife came to take charge of the fledgling Christian Science Society. The Hannas left in 1892 for Christian Science world headquarters in Boston
where he had been called by Mary Baker Eddy
, the founder of Christian Science, to become the editor of the Christian Science Journal
.
In 1915 the Neoclassical
church edifice was erected at 520 Vine Street for the congregation which by then had become First Church of Christ, Scientist, Scranton. The architect was Albert J. Ward. The congregation held regular church services in this building until it downsized in the 1980s. In 1985 it sold the building for $1.5 million to the Lackawanna County Library System, which then converted it into the Lackawanna County Children's Library.
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Scranton, reverted to its previous name of Christian Science Society, Scranton. It now holds services at 335 North Washington Avenue.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
located at 520 Vine Street. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on May 9, 1988. The building, built in 1915, was listed for its Classical Revival architecture.
History
Christian ScienceChristian Science
Christian Science is a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Bible. It is practiced by members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist as well as some others who are nonmembers. Its central texts are the Bible and the Christian Science textbook,...
religious activity in Scranton dates from before 1890 when Judge Septimus J. Hanna
Septimus J. Hanna
Septimus J. Hanna, C.S.D. , an American Civil War veteran and a judge in the Old West, was a student of Mary Baker Eddy, who was the discover and founder of Christian Science. He was a Christian Science healer/practitioner, lecturer, teacher and president of the Church's Massachusetts Metaphysical...
and his wife came to take charge of the fledgling Christian Science Society. The Hannas left in 1892 for Christian Science world headquarters in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
where he had been called by Mary Baker Eddy
Mary Baker Eddy
Mary Baker Eddy was the founder of Christian Science , a Protestant American system of religious thought and practice religion adopted by the Church of Christ, Scientist, and others...
, the founder of Christian Science, to become the editor of the Christian Science Journal
Christian Science Journal
The Christian Science Journal is an official monthly publication of the Church of Christ, Scientist through the Christian Science Publishing Society, founded in 1883 by Mary Baker Eddy...
.
In 1915 the Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
church edifice was erected at 520 Vine Street for the congregation which by then had become First Church of Christ, Scientist, Scranton. The architect was Albert J. Ward. The congregation held regular church services in this building until it downsized in the 1980s. In 1985 it sold the building for $1.5 million to the Lackawanna County Library System, which then converted it into the Lackawanna County Children's Library.
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Scranton, reverted to its previous name of Christian Science Society, Scranton. It now holds services at 335 North Washington Avenue.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Lackawanna County, PennsylvaniaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Lackawanna County, PennsylvaniaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States...
- List of former Christian Science churches, societies and buildings