Caroline S. Bates (b. Bradley) (1849-1926) was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and died in Syracuse, New York. She married Edward P. Bates, a heating and ventilation contractor, in 1868. Upon being given a terminal diagnosis in 1885, she read Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and was healed. Her notable healing inspired her and her husband to become students of Christian Science, taking a class with Ellen E. Cross in 1886. The next year, Caroline, Edward and her parents, Henry I. Bradley and Marietta Bradley took Primary class instruction with Eddy in January 1887. Henry gave up his medical practice to become a Christian Science practitioner. He and Marietta also organized a Christian Science church in New Haven, and Marietta joined The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1894. Caroline and Edward Bates both joined the National Christian Scientist Association in April 1887, took the Normal course with Eddy in October 1887, took the Primary course again with Eddy in February 1889, and helped organize a Christian Science church in Syracuse in May 1889. She was one of the First Members of The Mother Church, later known as "Executive Members," who was one of twenty elected to join the original twelve members of the church when it was formed on September 23, 1892. Bates was listed as a practitioner of Christian Science in The Christian Science Journal from 1887 until 1905. Caroline and Edward went to Boston to help with the final phase of construction of the original church edifice of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in November 1894. Eddy put Caroline in charge of the plastering and the roof construction, which twice necessitated her to climb several precariously placed tall ladders up to the tower roof to negotiate a labor dispute and to solve a structural problem. Eddy referred to Caroline's contribution in her "Dedicatory Sermon" on January 6, 1895, as follows: "Woman, true to her instinct, came to the rescue as sunshine from the clouds; so, when man quibbled over an architectural exigency, a woman climbed with feet and hands to the top of the tower, and helped settle the subject." The Bateses resided in Boston for several more years before returning to Syracuse where Caroline remained until her passing.

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