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The Mother Church

church members involved in a variety of activities

This Church was designed to bless you.

Its purpose is to re-establish the Christianity that heals mankind physically as well as morally. Christianity as Christ Jesus lived it is inspired, practical, and transforming; it shows us how much God loves us.

Nathan Talbot, Clerk of The Mother Church

About The Mother Church (The First Church of Christ, Scientist)

Visit Church services
Take a look at Sunday School.
  • This is a place for anyone nineteen and under to gain a better understanding of God, who he or she is as God’s child, and how to feel His constant loving embrace.
  • Discussions and lessons are designed around the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s Prayer, the Beatitudes, and The Christian Science Bible Lesson.
  • Take a look at The Mother Church Sunday School.
What does a Wednesday testimony meeting include?
Wednesday testimonial meetings include readings from the Bible and Science and Health. After the readings, attendees are welcomed to participate by sharing accounts of healing and spiritual insights. The meeting also includes prayer and hymn singing.
What is a Reading Room?
  • A Reading Room is a community bookstore and a center for the exploration of spirituality, prayer, and healing.
  • The Mother Church and branch churches have at least one Reading Room.
  • Take a look at the Reading Room of The Mother  Church.
Who are members of The Mother Church?
  • Members are a worldwide community of individuals who freely apply the spiritual ideas and system of healing in Science and Health to their own lives and activities. They are united in purpose, in prayer and study, and in activity.
  • Membership figures are not published. Members live in more than 130 countries around the world.
  • Learn about becoming a member of The Mother Church.
What is the difference between The Mother Church and branch churches?
  • The Mother Church located in Boston, Massachusetts where you’ll find the main church offices and the Christian Science Publishing Society. It is governed by the by-laws given in the Church Manual. It’s business is transacted by the Christian Science Board of Directors.
  • The Mother Church also has branch churches, societies, and groups around the world.
    • The branches are democratically governed by their own members under branch by-laws as well as by the by-laws given in the Church Manual.
    • Branch churches also have Sunday services, testimonial meetings, and Sunday Schools. Societies have Sunday services and sometimes testimonial meetings and Sunday Schools.
    • Locate a branch church or society in your area
How did the Christian Science Church begin?
  • The Church began when people read Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (written by Mary Baker Eddy and published in 1875) and found healing through their study and application of its transforming ideas. Soon, readers began meeting to discuss the ideas and share their healing results with each other. Then, in 1879, Eddy established what became The First Church of Christ, Scientist (The Mother Church).
  • The Church is designed “to commemorate the word and works of our Master, which should reinstate primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing.” (Church Manual, page 17). Eddy had a lifelong reverence for the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and a deep desire that his healing works be universally practiced.
  • It consists of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, and over 1,700 branch churches and societies of Christ, Scientist, worldwide.
How is the Church governed?
  • The Mother Church is governed by By-Laws given in Eddy’s Church Manual.
  • The five-person Christian Science Board of Directors transacts the business of The Mother Church. Current Directors are J. Thomas Black, Michael Pabst, Margaret Rogers, Nathan Talbot, and Mary M. Trammell.
  • View a list of the Officers of The First Church of Christ, Scientist.