Many great minds were members "of the church". If it weren't for the church however their progress could have been much greater. I don't think its fair to say its because of the church (take Galileo for instance having his findings suppressed by who? The church).
Many who made scientific advancements were in fact christian's and Muslims too, some even monks and priests. Did they make them because of Christianity or Islam?
The religion worked against progress, and progress happened despite that. Doesn't make religion a champion of science.
Its two different things.
Religion was a product of mans imagination and superstition. But it also suppresses real knowledge, many who would make these advancements were also considered trouble makers and heretics.
"In contrast, the groups that opposed science in classical antiquity were small, few, rare, and ultimately powerless. That is exactly the opposite of what happened under Christianity." . -Historian Richard Carrier
During the medieval period the little science that did occur progressed with little religious influence or, in most cases, in spite of Christianity, but not because of it