History
Christian Science in Corpus Christi
The Christian Science organization in Corpus Christi had its beginning in 1907, when a small group of adherents met and held services in private homes. In 1911 a Christian Science Society was organized. The Society met in various halls throughout the city and a Sunday School was established.
Larger quarters were secured in 1911 at 405 Schatzel St. where Sunday morning services, Sunday School and Wednesday night services were held. The first Reading Room was opened in 1911. The Society held its first lecture in 1912.
Membership steadily increased and in 1916 the Society split into two groups. In late 1916 the original Society met the requirements of The Mother Church (The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Mass.) and became First Church of Christ, Scientist of Corpus Christi. The second Society continued for about two years before rejoining with the First Church members.
In 1927 the need for a church building was realized, and a site was purchased at the corner of Morgan and Fifth Streets. The first services held at this location were in 1929. This small white, frame colonial style church building was dedicated in 1935 after becoming debt free. The auditorium had a seating capacity of 136. In 1936 the Sunday School room was enlarged to keep up with enrollments. During this time the church was sponsoring one public lecture a year. Soon the number of lectures was increased to two and then three.
In 1945 a site was purchased for a new church building. Three lots were purchased at the corner of Second and Buford Streets at a cost of $8500. A fourth lot adjacent to the property was purchased in 1969 for $10,000 to build a parking lot.
The Morgan Street location was sold and services were held at the Del Mar College auditorium during the construction of the new building. In spite of the shortage of materials at that time, the building was completed on schedule at cost $150,000 and had a seating capacity of 400 in the auditorium. The Sunday School could accommodate 150 students.
February 6, 1949 the first two Sunday services were held in the new edifice. Debt free, the church was dedicated on May 17, 1959.
Services were held continually at the Second Street location since that first service in 1949 until January 2010 when the building was sold. Services were then held temporarily in a retirement center while the members searched for a permanent church home.
In November 2010 a lease agreement was signed for a portion of the building at 1017 Airline, which housed a Reading Room and Church, including Sunday School. In September 2011 the Church purchased the entire building, including the adjoining vacant lot. Services continue to be held on the originally leased side. The Reading Room and Sunday School have expanded and moved into the newly renovated remainder of the building.
The Christian Science organization in Corpus Christi had its beginning in 1907, when a small group of adherents met and held services in private homes. In 1911 a Christian Science Society was organized. The Society met in various halls throughout the city and a Sunday School was established.
Larger quarters were secured in 1911 at 405 Schatzel St. where Sunday morning services, Sunday School and Wednesday night services were held. The first Reading Room was opened in 1911. The Society held its first lecture in 1912.
Membership steadily increased and in 1916 the Society split into two groups. In late 1916 the original Society met the requirements of The Mother Church (The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Mass.) and became First Church of Christ, Scientist of Corpus Christi. The second Society continued for about two years before rejoining with the First Church members.
In 1927 the need for a church building was realized, and a site was purchased at the corner of Morgan and Fifth Streets. The first services held at this location were in 1929. This small white, frame colonial style church building was dedicated in 1935 after becoming debt free. The auditorium had a seating capacity of 136. In 1936 the Sunday School room was enlarged to keep up with enrollments. During this time the church was sponsoring one public lecture a year. Soon the number of lectures was increased to two and then three.
In 1945 a site was purchased for a new church building. Three lots were purchased at the corner of Second and Buford Streets at a cost of $8500. A fourth lot adjacent to the property was purchased in 1969 for $10,000 to build a parking lot.
The Morgan Street location was sold and services were held at the Del Mar College auditorium during the construction of the new building. In spite of the shortage of materials at that time, the building was completed on schedule at cost $150,000 and had a seating capacity of 400 in the auditorium. The Sunday School could accommodate 150 students.
February 6, 1949 the first two Sunday services were held in the new edifice. Debt free, the church was dedicated on May 17, 1959.
Services were held continually at the Second Street location since that first service in 1949 until January 2010 when the building was sold. Services were then held temporarily in a retirement center while the members searched for a permanent church home.
In November 2010 a lease agreement was signed for a portion of the building at 1017 Airline, which housed a Reading Room and Church, including Sunday School. In September 2011 the Church purchased the entire building, including the adjoining vacant lot. Services continue to be held on the originally leased side. The Reading Room and Sunday School have expanded and moved into the newly renovated remainder of the building.