St. Luke's Memorial Episcopal Church

In 1874 Charles Wright, a railroad magnate involved with the Northern Pacific Railroad donated the downtown property for the church, which was then located at 602 Broadway. Wright also provided $30,000 for construction of the church. Wright is a familiar name to Tacoma residents. He is responsible for substantial donations to some of the city's best-known landmarks, including Annie Wright School, Charles Wright Academy, Christ Episcopal Church, the University of Puget Sound, and Wright Park. Wright's youngest daughter, Annie selected the Gothic Revival style architecture of the church. Originally built in 1883 at 602 Broadway, the church was dismantled in 1934 and reassembled brick-by-brick at its present location. The reconstruction started in 1935 and was completed in 1947.

St. Luke's served as the pro-Cathedral for the region until 1891, when St. Mark's in Seattle was given the honor. Although the Episcopal population of Tacoma was strong, St. Luke's struggled with low attendance during the 1910s and '20s. Demographic shifts caused by a rapidly expanding downtown eventually leave the church underutilized and underfunded. The building is abandoned and sits decaying during the late 1920s and early 1930s. By l934 plans are finally made to demolish the structure and use the site for new homes.

The potential demolition of the well-known landmark galvanized Tacomans into what was perhaps the city's first preservation effort, saving St. Luke's. The Tacoma Society of Architects appealed for a halt to the demolition. The "For the Honor of Tacoma" campaign begins to raise funds to move and rebuild the church. During 1934 the building stones were carefully marked and the church was moved, one block at a time. A new building lot was located in the North End and the church was reconstructed and re-consecrated by 1947. The church was enlarged during the rebuilding, the transept removed from the original design was added and the chancel was lengthened by 18 feet.

Portland, Oregon Architect Joseph Sherwin is responsible for the church's design. Sherwin was responsible for designing the first Pierce County Courthouse in Tacoma (1882) and the original Central School (1883). St. Luke's is modeled after an English country church. Its elaborate detailing, lancet arched windows, brackets, engaged buttresses and combination of smooth and textured stone which might seem overwhelming on a larger structure create a visually rich presence for the petite building. Wilkeson sandstone was used for the exterior.

Sacred Spaces: Tacoma's Historic Sacred Places. Tacoma, Washington. Historic Tacoma Press, 2009.