First Baptist Church (1883; now Urban Grace)

Originally known as the First Baptist Church, and now known as Urban Grace Church, the original congregation incorporated with ten members on March 28, 1883. The Tacoma Land Company donated the original two lots to the congregation. A year later, on March 16, 1884, the first building was dedicated on the current site. The young congregation grew quickly and by 1891 made plans for a greatly enlarged church.

First Baptist Church incorporated with ten members on March 28, 1883. The Tacoma Land Company donated the original two lots to the congregation. A year later, on March 16, 1884, the first building was dedicated on the current site. The young congregation grew quickly, and by 1891 made plans for a greatly enlarged church. Construction on the "new" building began in 1892. By 1921 First Baptist had again outgrown their building. The congregation started a capital fundraising campaign for a newer, larger home. The architectural firm of Heath, Gove, and Bell was contracted to design the structure.

While original newspaper images show a large, ornate Greek Revival building, the finalized design was a subdued Gothic Revival styled structure. The original edifice was designed with glazed terracotta facing, a more inexpensive building material than the cut stone typically used for Gothic Revival structures. However, early in the construction process Robert Walker, owner of the Walker Cut Stone Company, made arrangements for the purchase of cut stone below market rates. The current structure has an auditorium which seats 1,250 and a banquet hall with a stage. The building was never intended to serve only as a religious space; it was designed to accommodate a variety of activities to better serve the community. One of the main differences between First Baptist Church and a traditional church is the seating in the sanctuary, which has Opera chairs and not pews. The question of whether or not First Baptist would remain in downtown Tacoma has been addressed several times in the church's history. Before construction of the current building, questions arose regarding relocation to a residential area that would be more convenient for the congregation's members. The decision was made to build in their current location because the outreach mission of the church was considered equally important as internal congregational needs. The most recent manifestation of this calling occurred on April 3, 2005 when the congregation of First Baptist voted to allow a new congregation to form, Urban Grace. This was not merely a name change, but a heroic effort to continue their mission of 122 years by becoming an interdenominational church. The new congregation firmly states that the building is a "community landmark, where people of all backgrounds and traditions are welcome...."

In 2016, Urban Grace was the recipient of a grant from the National Fund for Sacred Places awarded by the Partners for Sacred Spaces and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to assist with needed repairs and restoration.

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