First Church of Christ, Scientist
Also known as: Christian Science Church
Why it's listed
This church on Dwight Way in Berkeley was designed by Bernard Maybeck and completed in 1910. A group of congregation members asked him for a church that looked like a church and used honest materials. Maybeck responded with industrial and local products: cast concrete, factory sash windows, red asbestos panels and redwood. He drew on four historic traditions. Gothic appears in the window tracery and the gold-painted trusses, Romanesque in the fluted columns topped with carved figures of carollers, Byzantine in the painted decoration and brackets, and Japanese in the portico roof, trellises and timber work. The plan follows a Greek cross, with hinged trusses spanning the nave and forced-air ducts hidden in the truss columns. The nomination treats the building as a high point of Maybeck's career and a rare, sculptural example of eclectic design that draws visitors from far away. It remains in use as a church and in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a major work of Bernard Maybeck, built at the request of Christian Scientists who wanted a building inspired by the past but made of contemporary materials. It combines concrete, factory sash, asbestos panels and redwood with Gothic, Japanese, Byzantine and Romanesque detailing. It is described as a high point of Maybeck's career.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 77000283, listed December 22, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2619 Dwight Way, Berkeley |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | December 22, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000283 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1910) |
| Architect / builder | Bernard Ralph Maybeck (1862-1957) |
| Architectural style | Eclectic, combining Gothic, Romanesque, Byzantine and Japanese influences |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 22, 1977 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked excellent and altered; occupied and in religious use. Also designated a Berkeley City Landmark in 1975. |
| Coordinates | 37.86579, -122.25585 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 77000283.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452668
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.