Originally published Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 7:01 PM
Seattle's First Church of Christ, Scientist, ca. 1914
Seattle architects Charles Bebb and L.L. Mendel designed the First Church sanctuary when they were busy with a great variety of building types.
COURTESY OF JOHN COOPER
THEN: Made of Bedford limestone, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, at the southwest corner of 16th Avenue and East Denny Way on Capitol Hill, took five years to complete.
JEAN SHERRARD
NOW: The landmark's exterior has been protected during its conversion inside into living spaces. While it cannot be seen from the street, the sanctuary's stained-glass atrium with its 40-foot ceiling has also been saved as a public space.
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FIRST CHURCH of Christ, Scientist, on Seattle's Capitol Hill needed three services to celebrate the completion of its sanctuary on June 7, 1914. The Seattle Times reported that "following the unostentatious custom of the Scientists, there will be no joy-making." There would, however, be music from the church's new organ, but it would not, the Times assured, be "blaring music" nor would there be any "speechmaking."
The services featured the regular Christian Science practice of two readings, one from the Bible, the other, "correlative passages" from "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," the denomination's "textbook" written by its founder, Mary Baker Eddy. Christian Science was so popular in the early 20th century that within a few years several Seattle congregations were formed, all of them in distinguished sanctuaries, many of which survive.
Some have been saved by conversion to other uses. A vibrant example is the Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, at Eighth Avenue and Seneca Street, which has, since 1999, been home for Town Hall, a local cultural venue for music, lectures and other civic events.
Architects Charles Bebb and L.L. Mendel designed the First Church sanctuary when they were busy with a great variety of building types. Surviving examples of their diverse designs include the Hogue Building (1911), University Heights School (1902) and the Walker-Ames house (1907), home for the president of the University of Washington.
First Church is one of the distinguished structures that survived by dint of conversion. It has been artfully adapted into a dozen condominiums. The congregation continues to meet on Thomas Street near Denny Park.
Check out Paul Dorpat and Jean Sherrard's blog at www.pauldorpat.com.
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