First Church of Christ, Scientist
Why it's listed
Built in 1907 at 406 and 408 Middle Street, this small Classical Revival church in New Bern is a one-story, temple-form building of stuccoed brick, three bays wide and five deep. An Ionic tetrastyle portico fronts the west facade, and Palladian windows light the front, rear and sides. Inside, the vestibule and sanctuary keep their original plan, Classical Revival mantels and early light fixture bases. Local architect Herbert W. Simpson designed it, and it is described as characteristic of his Classical Revival work. It was the first Christian Science church in North Carolina. Christian Science in New Bern began in 1894 with Mary Hatch Harrison, and a church was organized in 1902 with eighteen members. Founder Mary Baker Eddy took a close interest. She sent writings and $3,000 for the cornerstone and building fund, had the granite cornerstone block donated, and furnished the four wall inscriptions in 1907. The building was dedicated on July 28, 1907, and its modest scale fits the surrounding residential neighborhood.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a charming, small-scale example of the Classical Revival style that Herbert W. Simpson popularized in New Bern, and as a characteristic work of his. It was also the first Christian Science church in North Carolina, and founder Mary Baker Eddy took an active part in its construction.
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 73001321, listed October 2, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 406 and 408 Middle St., New Bern |
|---|---|
| County | Craven County |
| Listed | October 2, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001321 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 20th Century (1907 construction) |
| Architect / builder | Herbert Woodley Simpson (Herbert W. Simpson), local architect |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition, unaltered, on its original site; the congregation was described as active in 1972 and the building is in religious use. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 35.10829, -77.03917 (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 73001321.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452691
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.