In 1913 two earnest students of Christian Science met as a result of their mutual subscription to The Christian Science Monitor newspaper. These two Christian Scientists and others in the area met in their homes to read the Christian Science weekly Lesson-Sermon. In 1914 this informal group became a Christian Science Society. This was the first Christian Science Society formed in Polk County. Early in 1915 a Christian Science Reading Room was opened to the public, and later that year the Society sponsored its first public lecture.
In 1924 the Society was officially recognized by The Mother Church as First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Winter Haven, Florida, and a State Charter was obtained. The members voted to build their first church building in 1928. Later that year the church construction was completed on Avenue L, NW. A new building for our Christian Science Reading Room was built at Avenue B and Second Street, NW, and opened to the public in 1948.
The original church edifice was damaged by lightning in 1950. Damage was quickly repaired and paid for by generous donations from Christian Science churches in many parts of Florida.
The members voted to build a new, larger church edifice adjacent to the original church building. The first services were held in the beautiful new church in 1961. The original church building then became the Sunday School.
In 1999 the Reading Room property at Avenue B and Second Street, NW was sold. For a short time the Reading Room was located in the church lobby. In 2000 a new Christian Science Reading Room & Bookstore was opened in Olde Towne Square at 373 3rd St NW, where it is still located and open to the public.
Our church and Sunday School buildings on Avenue L, NW, were sold in 2005. One week later our first Sunday church service was held in our present location at 330 3rd St NW.