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What role do Christian Science sanatoriums serve?

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The Mother Church at the Christian Science Center in Boston stands beside a large reflecting pool, with its domed roof and ornate facade visible under a partly cloudy sky. — Christian Science The Mother Church and reflecting pool, Christian Science Center, Boston.

Christian Science sanatoriums serve as facilities where members of the denomination can receive nursing care when they are in need of assistance.1

While Christian Scientists often rely on prayer for healing, the church encourages members who require nursing support to seek care at these institutions or to utilize the services of a Christian Science nurse in their own homes. These facilities are part of the denomination's broader approach to health, which includes a complex relationship with the medical establishment; for instance, while members may use physicians for specific needs like setting broken bones or delivering babies, they are encouraged to prioritize spiritual healing as a central element of their faith.1