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Overview

San Francisco architect Carl Werner designed both the 4th Churches of Christ Scientist in Oakland and San Francisco, CA, c. 1922. Werner also supervised the completion of the 4th Church of Christ Scientist in San Francisco completed in 1913. Both churches were grand Beaux-Arts Classical buildings, each with a stately, templar appearance.

Building History

Erected between 1922 and 1923, the church opened in 06/1923. An article in the San Francisco Chronicle describing the 4th Church of Christ Scientist in 10/1931 stated: “Several hundred thousand dollars are involved in construction costs for building plans announced in Oakland during the past week. One of the most important of the projects is that of the $750,000 temple for the Scottish Rite Masons, to be erected on the block between Alice and Jackson streets. Another is a $100,000 church building to be erected by the congregation of the Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, of Oakland. A third is an $88,614 addition to the freight sheds of the Parr Terminal Company, recorded in the list of buildings for the week. The church building planned by the Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, will be erected on a site on Lakeshore boulevard, facing Lake Merritt, about 300 feet north of East Twelfth street and extending for 145 feet along the boulevard. The depth of the property, which has already been acquired, according to C.P. Warren who is handling the bond issue for the project, is 160 feet and it will have that frontage on Thirteenth street [when] that street is eventually cut through to First avenue. The money for the new church is being raised by the sale of bonds in denominations of $100 and $500, payable in installments, if desired, but the purchasers. Two $500 bonds and ten $100 bonds will be retired each year, according to the financing scheme. They will bear interest at the rate of 6 per cent. The congregation of the Fourth church at present meets in the Municipal Auditorium. The new building will be the first church structure to face Lake Merritt, and may be the first in a ‘church row,’ such as has been suggested by the city planning commission in its plans for centralizing large and beautiful buildings on Lake Merritt.” (See “Oakland Prepares for Building Large Structures: Scottish Rise Masons Will Build Temple,” San Francisco Chronicle, 10/30/1921, p. 5.)

The 4th Church of Christ Scientist operated at this location for nearly 60 years, before it was sold 04/15/1984. It likely stood until about 1988 or 1989.

In 1987, the Oakland Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board voted not to add the 4th Church of Christ Scientist to the Oakland Landmarks Preservation List. This probably followed the wishes of the building's owner, as the building, stylistically, was worthy of induction onto the list. It is possible that alterations had marred its original integrity.

Building Notes

The Historic American Buildings Survey documented the 4th Church of Christ, Scientist, Oakland, in the 1980s. (See HABS CA-2272; HABS CAL, 1-OAK, 11-2ph/1/pg/1pc. Historic American Buildings Survey, Creator, Carl Werner, and Mission Concrete Company Of San Francisco. Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist,Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland, Alameda County, CA. Alameda County Oakland California. Documentation Compiled After 1933. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/ca1523/, accessed 07/22/2024.)

Demolition

The Oakland Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board decided in 1987 that, although the 4th Church of Christ, Scientist, Building was "significant," it did not add it to the city's list of landmarks. This was likely due to the eagerness of the congregation to sell the church site, a prime location, where the sprawling Lake Merritt United Methodist Church was completed in 1991. Landmarks agencies tend to be reluctant to impose landmark status on churches and their congregations.

PCAD id: 19730