The Long Beach city ordinance designating First Church of Christ, Scientist former building at 440 Elm Avenue as "Historic Landmark" No. 16.52.580 stated that: "First Church of Christ Scientist was Long Beach's first Christian Science Church. As such, it established an important religious institution in this city. Additionally, this church was one of the few downtown churches to survive the 1933 earthquake relatively undamaged and, therefore, is one of the oldest churches in Long Beach."