We’re a Christian church that turns to the Bible and to prayer for healing — of the body, relationships, lack, or whatever is troubling you.
Christian Science is a practical, prayer-based approach to healing that’s available to anyone, whether you consider yourself religious or not. All are welcome here.
Who We Are
We’re one of the worldwide branches of The Mother Church — The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. Like every Christian Science church, our purpose is to commemorate the word and works of Christ Jesus and to reinstate what Mary Baker Eddy called “primitive Christianity and its lost element of healing.”
Eddy defined Church as “the structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle” (Science and Health, p. 583). In practice, that means a small, warm congregation in Madison that gathers each week to study the Bible together, pray for one another and the Madison community, and share what healing looks like in everyday life. We also offer the community a quiet study space open daily, and youth classes at the same time as Sunday services.
Our Pastor
When Eddy founded the Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston in 1879, she served as its pastor herself. In 1895, she ordained the Bible, together with Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, as the pastor of The Mother Church and all its branches, describing them as a “dual and impersonal pastor” (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 322). Eddy was given the title of Pastor Emeritus, and these two books remain our pastor today.
Much like the Quakers, we have no ordained clergy. Instead, our members elect two of their own to serve as Readers, who read aloud each Sunday’s sermon — the weekly Bible Lesson, drawn entirely from the Bible and Science and Health. Christian Science churches around the world hear the same sermon each week, and it’s free of personal opinion or commentary, letting the Word speak directly to each listener.
What We Believe
Christian Science is based on the Bible and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered the science of Christianity in 1866. At the heart of Christian Science is knowing God as infinite Love. Everyone can develop a real, direct relationship with God, and through prayer experience healing, guidance, and transformation.
We look to Christ Jesus as our model, not only as Savior but as the standard for healing — he told his followers that they, too, would do the works that he did, and we take that call seriously today. Healing, in our experience, is the natural outcome of a better understanding of our relationship to God — not positive thinking or willpower, but the effect of divine law.
Key aspects of Christian Science include:
- The Bible as our foundation: We study the Bible along with Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Eddy
- Prayer-based healing: Christian Science relies on prayer for healing of physical, mental, and moral challenges
- God’s goodness: We understand God as all-powerful, all-present, and entirely good, and we do not accept suffering as God’s will
- Our Six Tenets: A short statement of belief, written by Eddy, affirming the Bible as our guide, God’s allness and goodness, Christ Jesus as our Way-shower, and our commitment “to love one another” and to strive to have the mind of Christ in all our interactions
We’d love to meet you!
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Our Services
Service times and how to join
Our History
The story of our church
Reading Room
Visit our Reading Room
Youth
Programs for young people
