It is easy to miss. If you are driving through Dixon, Illinois, looking for the towering steeples or the heavy stone masonry that usually marks a town’s religious history, your eyes might slide right past it. Located at 321 West Second Street, the Christian Science Church Dixon—formally known as First Church of Christ, Scientist—is a study in understated presence. It isn’t trying to shout. Honestly, that is kind of the point of Christian Science architecture in smaller Midwestern towns; it’s meant to feel like a home or a quiet reading room rather than a cathedral that demands your submission.
Dixon is a town defined by its heritage. Most people know it as the boyhood home of Ronald Reagan. Because of that, almost every historical building in the downtown area carries a certain weight of expectation. But the Christian Science community here has always operated a bit differently. They aren’t usually the ones holding massive public rallies or loud festivals. Instead, they’ve maintained a steady, quiet presence for decades, focused on a very specific set of spiritual practices centered on healing and the writings of Mary Baker Eddy.
What is the Christian Science Church Dixon actually like?
Walk up to the building and you'll notice it feels accessible. It’s a brick structure that sits comfortably in its neighborhood. If you’ve never been inside a Christian Science church, you might expect an altar, maybe some candles, or a choir loft. You won't find those. There are no crosses on the walls. No statues. No stained glass depicting scenes from the life of Christ.
Instead, the focal point is the "Desk."
In Christian Science, they don't have ordained clergy in the way Methodists or Catholics do. They have Readership. Two lay members of the congregation are elected to read from the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. This happens every Sunday. The logic is that the "pastor" is the word itself, not a person who might get things wrong or inject their own ego into a sermon. It’s a very democratic, if somewhat formal, way to run a service.
The Dixon branch is part of the global Mother Church in Boston. Even though it’s a local institution, the readings you hear in Dixon on a Sunday morning are exactly the same ones being read in London, Tokyo, or New York. There is a sense of global synchronicity that members find deeply comforting. It’s a shared intellectual and spiritual exercise that happens simultaneously across the planet.
The Reading Room: Dixon's Spiritual Library
Right next to the church—or sometimes integrated into the building itself—is the Reading Room. This is arguably the most important part of the Christian Science Church Dixon for the general public. It functions as a hybrid between a bookstore and a library.
You can just walk in.
People go there to study, to pray, or just to sit in the silence. In a world that is constantly screaming for your attention, these Reading Rooms are weirdly revolutionary. They offer a space where you aren't expected to buy anything, though you can purchase the Christian Science Monitor—a Pulitzer Prize-winning news organization—or various books on spiritual healing.
The Monitor is a great example of the church’s nuance. Despite being owned by a church, it’s secular in its reporting. It doesn’t proselytize. It’s widely respected for its international coverage. Having a local hub where this kind of high-level journalism and quiet study intersect is a bit of a hidden gem for the Dixon community.
Why People Get This Church Wrong
There is a massive amount of misinformation out there. I've heard people compare Christian Science to Scientology just because the names sound similar. Let’s be clear: they have absolutely nothing to do with each other. One was founded in the 1800s by a woman looking for biblical healing; the other was started in the 1950s by a science fiction writer.
Another big one? People think Christian Scientists are "forbidden" from seeing doctors.
That isn't true.
While the core of the faith is the belief that prayer is an effective and primary way to heal, the church doesn't excommunicate people for going to a hospital. It’s a personal choice. There’s no "church police" checking to see if you took an aspirin. Members in Dixon and elsewhere generally choose to rely on spiritual healing because they believe it works, but they live in the modern world just like anyone else. They pay taxes, they drive cars, and they participate in the Dixon Chamber of Commerce.
A Bit of History in Lee County
The Christian Science movement swept through the Midwest in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a time of massive social change. People were looking for something that felt more "scientific" than old-school fire and brimstone, but more spiritual than the cold industrialization of the era. Dixon, being a hub of commerce and culture in Lee County, was a natural fit.
The building on Second Street represents a period when the town was expanding its spiritual footprint. It stands as a reminder that Dixon isn't just a "Reagan town"—it's a place that has hosted a variety of thinkers and believers for over a century. The architecture reflects the values of the time: stability, cleanliness, and a lack of pretension.
The Wednesday Night Difference
If you really want to understand the Christian Science Church Dixon, you don't go on Sunday. You go on Wednesday night.
Wednesday meetings are "testimony" meetings. After some short readings, the floor is opened to the congregation. People stand up and talk about their lives. They talk about how their faith helped them through a health crisis, or a financial struggle, or a relationship problem. It’s raw. It’s honest. It’s probably the most "human" part of the whole experience. In a small town like Dixon, where everyone kind of knows everyone else’s business anyway, these meetings provide a structured space for vulnerability.
Navigating the Visit
If you're thinking about stopping by, here is what you need to know.
First, don't worry about a dress code. While some older members might wear a suit or a dress, you aren't going to get kicked out for wearing jeans. The vibe is "respectful casual."
Second, the service is quiet. If you are used to Pentecostal energy or a rock-band worship style, this will be a shock. It’s contemplative. There is music—usually a soloist and an organ—but it’s designed to foster thought, not hype.
Third, check the hours. Like many smaller congregations, the Christian Science Church Dixon may have limited Reading Room hours compared to a big city branch. It’s always smart to call ahead or check the notice board on the front of the building.
Actionable Steps for the Curious
If this piqued your interest and you want to explore further, don't just take my word for it.
- Visit the Reading Room: Stop by during the week. It’s the easiest way to get a feel for the literature without committing to a full hour-long service.
- Read the Monitor: Pick up a copy of the Christian Science Monitor. It will give you a sense of the intellectual rigor the church values.
- Check the Board: The church usually posts their weekly "Lesson-Sermon" topic on a sign outside. If the topic is something like "God the Preserver of Man" or "Is the Universe, Including Man, Evolved by Atomic Force?", and that sounds interesting to you, that’s the week to attend.
- Compare Locally: Dixon has a lot of historical churches within a few blocks. Walk the "Church Row" area to see how the Christian Science architecture differs from the more ornate Episcopal or Catholic structures nearby. It tells a visual story of the town's diverse religious history.
Understanding the Christian Science Church Dixon is about understanding a specific slice of Illinois life—one that values quietude, individual study, and a very particular kind of spiritual discipline. It’s a part of the town’s fabric that has remained remarkably consistent while the world around it changed.