By ARLENE JOHNS
There has been a Christian Scientist presence in Johnstown since 1897, just a few years after Mary Baker Eddy founded the church in Boston.
In the early days, the young congregation met together in the homes of believers.
Today, with its reading room closed and its church in Southmont listed for sale, the small group is again meeting in residences – its future uncertain.
Former board member and lay leader Ed Gondolf of Indiana said problems leading to the closure are similar to those facing many other churches.
The IUP professor said attendance had fallen to around 10. He attributed the drop to a combination of things – including the increased mobility of members and the change in demographics.
“At the other end, we had to look at just the cost of upkeep of a building today.
“We’re going through a sort of self-examination about that,” Gondolf said.
“Where best can we put our resources? And how best can we serve the mission of our church?
“My sense is that the building is more a reinforcement of the larger mission ... that goes well beyond the doors of the church.”
First Church of Christ, Scientist, 1067 Menoher Blvd., was built in 1961 for $125,000. It replaced the building the congregation purchased in 1926 from the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church.
The asking price for the church is $180,000. It is listed by Prudential Speicher Select Properties of Southmont.
Margaret Kipilo, a longtime Johnstown resident now living with her son in California, worshiped with the local congregation for more than 50 years.
“I hate to see it go,” she said of the church’s sale.
Gondolf said the remaining members are looking at making the church more accessible to a greater number of people and said that could be accomplished through general meetings, lectures and online services.
But, he said, they still feel that maintaining a church building and holding Sunday services are very important.
“We would like a physical presence in Johnstown in the future,” Gondolf said. “We’re not sure what form that would take.”
