What information is available about the Plainfield Christian Science Church?

Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent, in New Jersey, is not affiliated with The Mother Church (The First Church of Christ, Scientist). A number of years ago, the Christian Science Sentinel shared some background:

… From 1907 to 1977 the Plainfield group had functioned under the name First Church of Christ, Scientist, Plainfield, as a branch of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts.

However, because of what The Mother Church found to be “conduct that grossly misrepresents the teachings of Christian Science in its community” beginning in 1975, branch church recognition was withdrawn. Many members of the Plainfield branch had earlier withdrawn from the local church for these same reasons…. ¹ 

In the 1980s The Mother Church pursued legal action against Plainfield. The statement quoted above continued: “In its legal complaint, The Christian Science Board of Directors stated that the Plainfield group was ‘unfairly appropriating the reputation, standing, and good will of The Mother Church, and causing confusion, mistake, and deception.’” The courts’ final ruling allowed the Plainfield church to use the name “Christian Science,” but required that it distinguish itself as “independent,” and not use the name “Church of Christ, Scientist.”

We are sometimes asked about the group’s print publications and audio recordings. These include pieces attributed to Mary Baker Eddy and early Christian Scientists, articles from the Christian Science periodicals, Christian Science lectures, and other materials. Items produced or adapted by Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent, are not published or sold by The Christian Science Publishing Society. 

You can find verified information about items attributed to Mary Baker Eddy and early Christian Scientists on The Mary Baker Eddy Library’s Authentications page.