First Church of Christ, Scientist (Oconto, Wisconsin)
First Church of Christ, Scientist, also known as First Christian Science Church Edifice, is a church building located in Oconto, Wisconsin. Built in 1886 of stone, weatherboard and brick in the Gothic Revival style, it was the first purpose-built Christian Science church edifice in the world.[2] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.[1]
First Church of Christ, Scientist | |
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in 2013 | |
| Location | 423 Chicago St., Oconto, Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°53′24″N 87°52′39″W / 44.89003333°N 87.87758889°W |
| Built | 1886 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000111 |
| Added to NRHP | November 19, 1974[1] |
History edit
First Church of Christ, Scientist, Oconto, was organized on June 10, 1886 as "the Christian Science Association of Oconto," with the building being finished in October of that year for less than $1,000; but for various reasons it was not dedicated until February 1887. Other Christian Science groups were meeting at the time around the United States, and the membership of the Oconto church did not realize they had built the first Christian Science church edifice in the world until later.[3] Laura Sargent and her sister Victoria, who were very involved in the founding of the church, would go on to play important roles in the movement.[3][4]
Current use edit
The building is still used for Christian Science religious services, although First Church of Christ, Scientist, Oconto, is now Christian Science Society, Oconto.[5]
The auditorium seats 100 people.[3]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
- ^ a b c Beasley, Norman (1952). The Cross and the Crown. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce. pp. 580–582.
- ^ Laura Ellen Sargent, C.S.D. Longyear Museum
- ^ The Christian Science Journal, February 2007, p.116,
External links edit
- Wisconsin historical marker 2011-06-11 at the Wayback Machine