Description of Historic Place

The Christian Science Society Building is a modest, one-storey, Classical Period Revival style building located in downtown Nanaimo. The historic place is confined to the building footprint.

Heritage Value

Renovated in 1932, the Christian Science Society Building is a very good example of Classical Period Revival architecture. Typically monumental in scale and often featuring massive order columns and other oversize elements, this style was very popular for churches and public buildings during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Christian Science Society Building is, however, a very modest rendition of the style, more appropriate to the small congregation it served in Nanaimo and the financial constraints of its construction during the Depression.

A good example of early adaptive re-use, the building, originally a residence, was substantially renovated in 1932. Renovations included removing the interior partitions, setting the house on a concrete foundation and covering the outside in stucco. Since that time, the building has remained remarkably unchanged and continues to serve the function for which it was renovated.

The Christian Science Society Building is part of a significant grouping of historic buildings.

Source: City of Nanaimo, Development Services Department, file #6800-20-H01-02/20 Chapel Street

Character-Defining Elements

Character-defining elements of the Christian Science Society building include:

-all of the elements of a modest version of the Classical Period Revival style including the symmetrical facade, triangular pediment over the front entry and minimal projecting elements.

-the location within a grouping of historic buildings.