Conversely, reading rooms are always connected to a church. While they may not always be directly next to the church, they are all maintained by one, often in separate storefronts. Christian ...

Operating a reading room, which also offers Christian Science literature for sale, is not an optional ministry for a Christian Science church. Some smaller churches may jointly operate one with ...

Some Christian Science churches have sold their buildings and moved into the reading rooms. In other cases, the reading room has moved in with the church.

Operating a reading room, which also offers Christian Science literature for sale, is not an optional ministry for a Christian Science church. Some smaller churches may jointly operate one with ...

Mike Van Vleck, left, and Gail Dowdle talk while volunteering at the Christian Science Reading Room in downtown Overland Park, Kans., Friday, March 14, 2025.

In nearly every major American city and in many small towns, Christian Science reading rooms are found mixed in with storefronts. Passersby may hardly notice them, but to those who stop to wonder ...