Second Church of Christ, Scientist
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Why it's listed
Rising on a raised stylobate above West Adams Boulevard in Los Angeles, this Neo-classical church is dominated by a two-story portico of six forty-foot Corinthian columns and a seventy-foot copper-clad dome. Built of reinforced concrete faced in white enamel brick, with terra cotta ornament and a granite foundation, it was constructed between 1907 and 1910 to designs by Alfred H. Rosenheim, with Albert C. Martin as structural engineer. Inside, a square sanctuary sits above a Sunday School room and seats about 930 on mahogany pews, lit by stained glass and topped by a ribbed dome. The congregation formed in 1898 and the $318,000 building was dedicated debt-free in September 1910. It is the oldest surviving Christian Science church in the city and was considered the largest of its denomination west of the Mississippi. Alterations have been limited to an added elevator, some removed pews and 1960s redecoration, leaving the building highly intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as the oldest surviving Christian Science church in Los Angeles, in continuous use since 1910. It was heralded as the largest and most elaborate of the denomination's branches west of the Mississippi. It closely resembles parts of the Mother Church in Boston and is called a primary example of its style and type in Los Angeles, with high integrity.
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 87000576, listed April 2, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 946 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | April 2, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000576 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific dates 1907-1910) |
| Architect / builder | Alfred H. Rosenheim/Albert C. Martin |
| Architectural style | Neo-classical |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in excellent condition; exterior unaltered and interior altered only in minor ways. In continuous use as a church since 1910. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 34.03546, -118.28890 (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 87000576.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7443197
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.