Eighth Church of Christ, Scientist

“Beman also placed great emphasis on adequate circulation patterns as an enhancement of a congregation's comfort and enjoyment of their building. He preferred to place foyers, cloakrooms, and circulation corridors on the first floor of a Christian Science church, while raising the auditorium to the second floor.”

“Since 1932 this building has housed the oldest African-American Christian Science congregation in the United States. A Brief History of Christian Science and its Practices The origins of Christian Science and its subsequent development, both in terms of its formal organization and its religious practices, played a role in the design of Christian Science churches.”

“Fundraising was completed two years later, and the congregation, free from debt, dedicated their new building on November 23, 1913. The new church appears today much as it did upon completion, an impressive Classical Revival edifice, the design of which is strongly influenced by ancient Greek and Roman temples and the Christian Science churches designed by Solon S. Beman.”

“Eighth Church of Christ, Scientist is no exception. A handsome Classical Revival building, it is a fine example of early twentieth-century Christian Science architecture still being used for its original purpose by its original congregation.”

“All but one used classical architectural forms and ornament. In addition, his Christian Science churches in Chicago, where he designed buildings for six of the first seven congregations, tended to reflect the advice concerning style and layout given in his article.”

“Both practical needs and philosophical ideals were considered by architects designing the first generation of Christian Science churches. It has been observed that the simplicity of the religious services of this rapidly growing denomination were influenced by the practices of Protestant churches in New England, especially the Congregationalist faith within which Mrs. Eddy was raised.”

“The Manual established in great detail the institutional means of government, form of worship, and other particulars of the Christian Science movement. Last revised in 1906, it has preserved Mrs. Eddy's organizational framework for the church without alteration to the present day.”

“Having stated his philosophical approach to Christian Science church architecture, Beman then settled into a discussion of practical design considerations. He noted that Christian Science services place great emphasis on the spoken word, interaction between readers and the congregation, and physical comfort.”

“Both churches were designed by Solon S. Beman in 1904. The Later History of Eighth Church of Christ, Scientist In the years after its construction, Eighth Church of Christ, Scientist and its congregation became witnesses to great social change on Chicago's South Side.”