Third Church of Christ Scientist
Why it's listed
Built in 1906 at 3648 West 25th Street in Cleveland, this Neoclassical church served Christian Scientists on the city's West Side during a period of rapid growth for the denomination. Architect Frederick Striebinger designed it on a rectangular plan, set on a brick podium with a broad flight of steps rising to double entrance doors with transoms and deep surrounds. A central oculus is echoed by a semicircular vent in the pediment, and Ionic columns form a large free-standing portico. The original plan had a recessed central entrance, but a later alteration kept the side windows and the columns intact. Carl Audus was the builder. The church sits on a knoll facing Riverside Cemetery near a depressed interstate highway. It is more modest than Striebinger's domed Second Church on Euclid Avenue, yet it was judged a rare and well-executed local example of turn-of-the-century Neoclassical religious design, which supported its listing despite being a religious property.
Significance in brief: The church was built for West Side Christian Scientists during the denomination's rapid growth around 1900. It is a rare, well-executed Cleveland example of turn-of-the-century Neoclassical religious architecture, with a large free-standing portico and fine Neoclassical details. It is also tied to Striebinger, a prominent Cleveland architect who also designed the larger Second Church of Christ, Scientist.
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 87000444, listed March 19, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3648 W. Twenty-fifth St., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | March 19, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000444 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Frederick N. Striebinger (also given as F. W. / Frederic W. Striebinger); Builder: Carl Audus |
| Architectural style | Neo-classic revival (Neoclassical) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Inventory lists interior and exterior condition as good, with the building still in use as a church. An alteration changed the original recessed central entrance. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Brooklyn Centre Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.45475, -81.70157 (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 87000444.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7784800
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.