“Christian Science Center Complex Study Report”

Boston Landmarks Commission, The. “Christian Science Center Complex Study Report.” Boston: City of Boston. 2010.

This Commission is the city of Boston’s report recommending the Christian Science Publishing Society Center complex as a designated landmark. The Center comprises the following buildings: The Mother Church, Christian Science Publishing Society, Sunday School, Church Colonnade, and Administration building. The Report includes a comprehensive description of the physical site and its uses, history of The Mother Church, history and development of the Fenway neighborhood, the Center’s architectural history and significance, the assessed value of the property, property uses and zoning issues, future development plans, and a description of the general standards and criteria of building exteriors and landscape needed to qualify as a landmark. The Center is significant as the headquarters of the Christian Science Publishing Society Church, as “a monumental, modernist architectural design for an entire city block, and as a prominent open space for the… neighborhood” (33). The Report concludes with the Commission’s comments: that the Center “exemplifies an important aspect of the religious history of Boston and of the nation… and an outstanding success of the… mid- to late-20^th century urban renewal movement;” that the property is closely associated with the life of Mary Baker Eddy—an “outstanding historic personage;” and that the Center is a “cohesive ensemble” of buildings of “architectural distinction” and landscape design (78).

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