First Church of Christ, Scientist sells historic building to private couple

Members of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, sold their 140-year-old building on Pine Street to a couple who plan to convert it into a private home. The church, known for its redbrick structure and Gothic windows, had served the community for decades. However, the high cost of maintaining the historic building and declining attendance led to the decision to sell.

The church members celebrated their final Sunday service last month and are now renting space at the Independence Seaport Museum on Penn’s Landing. They are searching for a more affordable, permanent location to continue their worship activities. “We are working on plans to adapt it very sensitively to a single-family home,” said Lane, a commercial real-estate lawyer. “We’re very excited to have the opportunity to help preserve this wonderful building as much as possible, rather than it going to a developer who would preserve the minimum needed.”

Built in the 1870s, the church was designed by Philadelphia architect James Peacock Sims, with later alterations by architect Frank Furness. The building originally housed Christ Church before being purchased by the First Church of Christ, Scientist, in 1930. Church leaders noted that the decision to sell was driven by the challenges of maintaining a historic structure. “Over the past few years, given the demands of maintaining a historic structure, First Church members have been considering moving to a more modern and better-located space,” said John Minard, church treasurer.

Services are now held at 11 a.m. Sundays and 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Seaport Museum. The Reading Room remains open at 51 S. 4th St. Mondays through Saturdays. The couple, Lane and Zemsky, purchased the old church in August for $1.61 million. They were seeking a home that offered one-story living, privacy, and outdoor space, which the old church provides, including a 2,400-square-foot private garden and 4,800 square feet of floor area, mostly ground-level.

Lane and Zemsky still need approvals from the city zoning board and Historical Commission and have not finalized their redesign plans. This is familiar terrain for them, as Zemsky previously converted a Bernadine Sisters convent on the original Fitler Estate in Villanova.

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