First Church of Christ, Scientist (St. Petersburg, Florida)
Encyclopedia
The former First Church of Christ, Scientist is an historic Christian Science
church edifice located at 253 Fifth Avenue North, in the Old Northeast neighborhood of St. Petersburg, Florida
. Built in 1925, it was designed as a basilican structure in the Romanesque Revival
style of architecture by architect Henry Lovewell Cheney. Cheney used Filippo Brunelleschi
's 15th century Ospedale degli Innocenti
in Florence
as his inspiration. The builder was the George A. Fuller Construction Company
of New York City
, then one of the nation's leading builders. The building was sold in 1998 to the Palladium Theater, which renovated it for its own use, while preserving as much as possible of the interior, including the 1926 Skinner
organ and the magnificent Arts and Crafts
style art title
work which came from the Los Angeles
studios of famed tilemaker Ernest A. Batchelder
. In 2007, the Palladium Theater was given to St. Petersburg College
and is now called the Palladium at St. Petersburg College.
The building is a contributing property
in the North Shore Historic District which was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on February 20, 2003.
First Church of Christ, Scientist, now holds services at 6333 First Street, Northeast in St. Petersburg.
Christian Science
Christian Science is a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Bible. It is practiced by members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist as well as some others who are nonmembers. Its central texts are the Bible and the Christian Science textbook,...
church edifice located at 253 Fifth Avenue North, in the Old Northeast neighborhood of St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
. Built in 1925, it was designed as a basilican structure in the Romanesque Revival
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
style of architecture by architect Henry Lovewell Cheney. Cheney used Filippo Brunelleschi
Filippo Brunelleschi
Filippo Brunelleschi was one of the foremost architects and engineers of the Italian Renaissance. He is perhaps most famous for inventing linear perspective and designing the dome of the Florence Cathedral, but his accomplishments also included bronze artwork, architecture , mathematics,...
's 15th century Ospedale degli Innocenti
Ospedale degli Innocenti
The Ospedale degli Innocenti is a historical building in Florence, central Italy. Designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, who received the commission in 1419, it was originally a children's orphanage. It is regarded as a notable example of early Italian Renaissance architecture...
in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
as his inspiration. The builder was the George A. Fuller Construction Company
George A. Fuller
George A. Fuller was an architect often credited as being the "inventor" of modern skyscrapers and the modern contracting system.-Early life and career:Fuller was born in Templeton, Massachusetts, near Worcester...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, then one of the nation's leading builders. The building was sold in 1998 to the Palladium Theater, which renovated it for its own use, while preserving as much as possible of the interior, including the 1926 Skinner
Aeolian-Skinner
Æolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc. — Æolian-Skinner of Boston, Massachusetts was an important American builder of a large number of notable pipe organs from its inception as the Skinner Organ Company in 1901 until its closure in 1972. Key figures were Ernest M. Skinner , Arthur Hudson Marks ,...
organ and the magnificent Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
style art title
Tile
A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass. Tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls, showers, or other objects such as tabletops...
work which came from the Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
studios of famed tilemaker Ernest A. Batchelder
Ernest A. Batchelder
Ernest A. Batchelder was an artist and educator who made Southern California his home in the early 20th century. He is famous as a maker of art tiles and as a leader in the American Arts and Crafts Movement....
. In 2007, the Palladium Theater was given to St. Petersburg College
St. Petersburg College
St. Petersburg College is a fully accredited post-secondary educational institution located in St. Petersburg, Florida, serving some 65,000 students annually...
and is now called the Palladium at St. Petersburg College.
The building is a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
in the North Shore Historic District which was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on February 20, 2003.
First Church of Christ, Scientist, now holds services at 6333 First Street, Northeast in St. Petersburg.
See also
- List of former Christian Science churches, societies and buildings
- First Church of Christ, Scientist (disambiguation)First Church of Christ, Scientist (disambiguation)First Church of Christ, Scientist may refer to The First Church of Christ, Scientist .It may also refer to the following present or former branch churches of The First Church of Christ, Scientist :- Ontario :...