The First, Church of Christ, Scientist
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, known as the Mother Church, is the central institution of the Christian Science denomination founded by Mary Baker Eddy. It oversees branch churches globally and publishes the Christian Science Monitor and related periodicals, supported by voluntary donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1956
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The First, Church of Christ, Scientist does
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, known as the Mother Church, is the central institution of the Christian Science denomination founded by Mary Baker Eddy in the late 19th century and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. As a religious nonprofit, it oversees a global network of branch churches — including Fifth Church of Christ, Scientist in Washington, DC — and operates a multi-channel religious and publishing enterprise rather than a traditional commercial business. Its core activities center on weekly Sunday services, Wednesday evening testimony meetings, Sunday School religious education for children and youth through age 20, a public Reading Room offering Christian Science literature and study space, an annual community lecture on healing, and a Thanksgiving service. The Mother Church publishes the Christian Science Journal (monthly), the Christian Science Sentinel (weekly), the Herald of Christian Science (multilingual), and the international newspaper Christian Science Monitor, and it sustains the weekly Sentinel Watch podcast and online live-streamed services for global audiences.
Underlying infrastructure is light and content-driven. The branch church operates on a standard WordPress website using a custom template associated with the San Francisco First Church of Christ, Scientist, and digital distribution is layered on top of an essentially volunteer-staffed, in-person religious practice. There is no proprietary technology stack, no app, no API, and no disclosed AI component. Business mechanics are donation-only: all services, education, and Reading Room access are provided free of charge, with contributions accepted via check, Venmo (@csgeorgetown), or credit card on request. No pricing tiers, membership fees, or contracted revenue streams exist; financial inflows are voluntary and unmetered. The customer base is the general public and Christian Science community — locally for branch churches and globally for the Mother Church's publishing and online-service footprint — with members and seekers addressed across age-differentiated programs and multilingual content.
The customer segments served are horizontally structured rather than commercially tiered. They comprise (a) the general community attending services, testimony meetings, lectures, and Reading Rooms, and (b) children and youth enrolled in Sunday School. The go-to-market motion is evangelistic and content-led — leveraging canonical texts (the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures), periodicals, podcasts, online streaming, and physical Reading Rooms to attract and retain adherents — rather than sales-led. Distribution combines physical (church building, Reading Room storefront at 1222 31st Street NW) and digital (csgeorgetown.com, ChristianScienceDC.org, JSH-Online, podcast, dial-in audio) channels.
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The First, Church of Christ, Scientist
- Legal name
- The First Church of Christ, Scientist
- Website
- https://csgeorgetown.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1956
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The First Church of Christ, Scientist, known as the Mother Church, is the central institution of the Christian Science denomination founded by Mary Baker Eddy. It oversees branch churches globally and publishes the Christian Science Monitor and related periodicals, supported by voluntary donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious Services
- NAICS
- Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious Organizations (813110)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Christian Broadcasting (TV & Radio) (MPABALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Denominational & Community Periodicals (Church Magazines, Diocesan/Temple Newsletters) (MPAJAHAI), Religious Education, Kids & Family Faith Programming (MPABALAM), Local Religious/Faith-Based Stations (MPABACAL)
Keywords
Where The First, Church of Christ, Scientist is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Voluntary donation-based model with no set pricing |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Mother Church delivers weekly Christian Science religious services, Sunday School religious education, and Wednesday testimony meetings centered on readings from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. It supports these through a public Reading Room, multilingual publications (Christian Science Journal, Sentinel, Herald), the Sentinel Watch podcast, and online streaming of Mother Church services — all provided free of charge and sustained by voluntary donations.
Product overview
The Fifth Church of Christ, Scientist in Washington, DC operates as a branch church affiliated with The First Church of Christ, Scientist (The Mother Church) in Boston. The organization offers a unified portfolio of religious services centered on Christian Science practice: Sunday church services and Wednesday testimony meetings featuring readings from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures; Sunday School for religious education; a public Reading Room providing access to Christian Science literature and the Christian Science Monitor newspaper; and annual Thanksgiving services and community lectures. The Mother Church publishes supporting content including The Christian Science Journal (monthly), The Christian Science Sentinel (weekly), and The Herald of Christian Science (multilingual), along with the Sentinel Watch podcast and online streaming of Mother Church services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sunday Church Services Weekly Sunday services held at 10:30 AM featuring readings from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, including prayer and hymns. Open to the general public.
- Wednesday Testimony Meetings Weekly Wednesday evening meetings at 7:30 PM consisting of readings from the Bible and Science and Health followed by attendees sharing healing experiences and spiritual growth gained through the practice of Christian Science.
- Sunday School Religious education held concurrently with Sunday services at 10:30 AM for children and youth from toddlers through age 20. Younger students learn Bible lessons including the Ten Commandments, Sermon on the Mount, and Lord's Prayer; older students discuss Christian Science Bible Lesson topics.
- Christian Science Reading Room Public resource located at 1222 31st Street NW, Washington DC, offering quiet space for studying the Bible, Science and Health, and Christian Science literature available to read, borrow, or purchase, plus access to the Christian Science Monitor. Open Thursday and Friday 12-3 PM.
- Thanksgiving Service
Companies that use The First, Church of Christ, Scientist
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- The Salvation Army (USA National Headquarters): A large faith-based nonprofit organization combining worship services with extensive community programming, donations, and a hierarchical national structure. Comparable as a similarly structured religious nonprofit dependent on voluntary donations with multi-channel community engagement.
Broad incumbents
- National Cathedral (Washington National Cathedral): A flagship Episcopal cathedral in Washington DC offering weekly worship, education, and community programming at much larger scale. Comparable as a high-profile DC faith institution with similar religious-education and outreach functions.
- Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN): A major Christian broadcasting network offering faith-based television, worship programming, and digital content. Comparable in combining Christian religious content distribution with broadcast and online media.
- EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network): A large Catholic religious broadcasting network producing television, radio, and digital content including worship services and educational programming. Comparable as a faith organization that distributes religious services and education through multi-channel media.
- Moody Church (Moody Bible Institute): A historic Chicago-based church affiliated with a broader media and educational ministry producing radio, publications, and educational content. Comparable as a Christian denomination-anchored organization combining worship, education, and media distribution.
Direct peers
- Christ Church Georgetown: An Episcopal congregation physically located in Georgetown, Washington DC, serving the same neighborhood demographic. Comparable as a historic mainline Protestant church in the same catchment area competing for similar congregants.
- St. John's Episcopal Church, Georgetown: A long-established Episcopal parish in Georgetown offering traditional Sunday services, Christian education, and community outreach. Comparable neighborhood Protestant church with overlapping programs and congregant base.
- Georgetown Baptist Church: A neighborhood Baptist congregation in Georgetown, DC, offering weekly services, Christian education, and community programming. Directly comparable as a local DC faith community serving the same residential base.
- Third Church of Christ, Scientist, Washington DC: A fellow branch church of the Mother Church operating in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Directly comparable in service offerings (Sunday services, Wednesday testimony meetings, Reading Room, Sunday School) and serves the same regional population of Christian Scientists.
- First Church of Christ, Scientist (Boston — The Mother Church): The parent denomination body and direct organizer of the Georgetown branch. Operates the same Christian Science service model, publishes the core content (Journal, Sentinel, Herald, Monitor), and provides the Bible Lesson that anchors every branch's Sunday service.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The First, Church of Christ, Scientist
What does The First, Church of Christ, Scientist do?
The Mother Church delivers weekly Christian Science religious services, Sunday School religious education, and Wednesday testimony meetings centered on readings from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. It supports these through a public Reading Room, multilingual publications (Christian Science Journal, Sentinel, Herald), the Sentinel Watch podcast, and online streaming of Mother Church services — all provided free of charge and sustained by voluntary donations.
Is The First, Church of Christ, Scientist a public or private company?
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The First, Church of Christ, Scientist founded?
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist was founded in 1956. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The First, Church of Christ, Scientist based?
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
Who are The First, Church of Christ, Scientist's main competitors?
The Salvation Army (USA National Headquarters) is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are National Cathedral (Washington National Cathedral), Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) and Moody Church (Moody Bible Institute). Direct peers are Christ Church Georgetown, St. John's Episcopal Church, Georgetown, Georgetown Baptist Church, Third Church of Christ, Scientist, Washington DC and First Church of Christ, Scientist (Boston — The Mother Church).
Does The First, Church of Christ, Scientist have an API?
No public API is recorded for The First, Church of Christ, Scientist.
What industry is The First, Church of Christ, Scientist in?
The First, Church of Christ, Scientist's product category is Religious Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABALAA, Christian Broadcasting (TV & Radio), with a secondary code of BPAGAJAD, Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis). Its NAICS code is 8131 and its SIC code is 8200.