Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request Scientology in Oxton?

Reading a report on the Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes divorce I had a flashback to Shrewsbury Road, Oxton c.1962.

I'm sure I remember somewhere along that road, not too far from a bus stop, was a locked glass display case with a Scientology book inside it, for anyone walking past to be able to read the message of the day.

Anyone know anything about this?

Are you thinking of the former Christian Scientist church in Village Road? it was opposite Ashton House and was a sandstone coloured building with pillars outside. There's a block of flats there now.

Oo, maybe! Thank you. That is starting to ring very faint bells. I was only about 6 I think so there is every chance I am mistaking the word Scientist for Scientology. I hope I've not offended anyone!

I am half thinking it was on a corner or the gates were set at an angle? Am I right about the display case do you know?

Just found this in relation to the building :

First Church of Christ Scientist
This building, designed by Joseph Brattan, was purpose-built in 1874 to house the Oxton
Local Board . On the township’s incorporation into Birkenhead, the building became
redundant and in 1886 it was purchased by The High School for Girls Ltd, and Birkenhead
High School was founded with one hundred girls, moving in 1905 to Belgrano in
Devonshire Place. 101
In 1925 the building was bought by the first Church of Christ Scientist, but in 1975 so much
structural damaged had developed that the church sought permission for demolition. This
was granted and work had reached an advanced stage before it was realized that the
building was listed.

From this site http://homepage.ntlworld.com/graham.mclean/Oxton%20history.pdf

wow! that's a brilliant record of the history of Oxton!

Pretty sure there was also a Church Science place on Laburnum Road? Nothing to do with Scientology.

As others have said, it's the Church of Christ the Scientist, nothing to do with Scientology. There's a glass case with reading material in it outside Christ the Scientist in King's Gap, Hoylake. I sometimes stop and take a look, it's often interesting and thought-provoking, not your typical bible-thumping bullshit.

CLICKY FOR PIC

No, I realise the child I was latched onto the word science and I made an assumption as an adult. I accept that I got the wrong group.

If there is a glass case now in Hoylake I am sure I did not dream it up and there will have been one in Oxton all those years ago. Thanks for the link to the pic in Hoylake. The case I recall was literally a glass topped display table/case, on the pavement. But maybe I've got that wrong too!

It IS a good history, isn't it, cmw2a!

oh yes, and the church in Laburnum Road/Bessborough Road was the old Unitarian church which was bombed in the war, a new one was built in the grounds and the old, bombed church became the Stevedores and Docker's Club. It was burned down many years ago now.

Scientology was still resting in L Ron Hubbards fevered imagination in the early 60's and did not yet exist.....