Sacred Spaces: Tacoma's Historic Sacred Places

Entries on This Tour

1. Asbury United Methodist Church

Asbury United Methodist Church

2. Manitou Park Presbyterian Church

Manitou Park Presbyterian Church

3. St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church

4. Temple Beth El

Temple Beth El

5. Northwest Baptist Seminary

Northwest Baptist Seminary

6. 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.

7. First Christian Church

First Christian Church

8. St. Paul's Methodist Church

St. Paul's Methodist Church

9. St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church

St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church

10. Kalevaria United Methodist Church

Kalevaria United Methodist Church

11. Old St. Peter's Church

Built in 1873, Old St. Peter’s Church was one of the first churches constructed in Tacoma. Local residents constructed the building in only seven days at the urging and direction of the Right Reverend Benjamin Morris. In 1874, the church received a 965-pound bell from Philadelphia and workers converted a nearby tree into a makeshift bell tower to house the gift. The church has been serving the community since its founding, making this the oldest surviving building in Tacoma.

12. St. Joseph's Catholic Church (1912)

The first Slovakian immigrants arrived in Tacoma in 1888. Their numbers grew quickly to more than fifty families and in 1906 they petitioned the local Catholic Bishop for a church where services could be held in their native tongue. The congregation excavated the basement and laid the foundation themselves, with many parishioners working on the building after their regular daily duties were completed. It was the first Slovak Catholic church built in the Northwest, and at the time the only Slovakian Roman Catholic parish west of the Mississippi River. The church architect is C. Frank Mahon. Mahon was the architect for Holy Rosary Church in Tacoma, as well as St. Leo's Catholic School and Sacred Heart School at 45th & McKinley Ave (now demolished).

13. Epworth-LeSourd United Methodist Church

Epworth-LeSourd United Methodist Church

14. Church of St. Patrick

Church of St. Patrick

15. Sixth Avenue Baptist Church

Sixth Avenue Baptist Church

16. St. Paul Lutheran Church

St. Paul Lutheran Church

17. Central Lutheran Church

Central Lutheran Church

18. Peace Lutheran Church

Peace Lutheran Church

19. New Jerusalem Church of God

New Jerusalem Church of God

20. Center for Spiritual Living

Center for Spiritual Living

21. St. Rita Cascia Catholic Church

St. Rita Cascia Catholic Church

22. First Church of Christ, Scientist

First Church of Christ, Scientist

23. First Congregational Church

First Congregational Church

24. Tacoma Hongwanji Buddhist Church

Tacoma Hongwanji Buddhist Church

25. First Evangelical Lutheran Church

First Evangelical Lutheran Church

26. 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.

27. Christ Episcopal Church

Christ Episcopal Church was founded by the Reverend Lemuel Wells, as a daughter congregation of St. Luke's Memorial Church, then in downtown Tacoma. The new church, a Gothic building which seated 300, was named Trinity Chapel and was built for $8,000. The first services were held on the date of December 8, 1889.

28. Holy Rosary Church

Holy Rosary was formed in 1891 by German Catholics. Building lots were purchased at the current site and a small wood church was used for services. A parochial school was started in 1892. In 1912 congregational growth necessitated a new church. The old wooden church was closed and services were held for nine years in the school auditorium. The current church was dedicated in 1921.

29. Immanuel Presbyterian Church (1908) - 901 North J Street

The Mission-style Immanuel Presbyterian Church was designed in 1908 by architect Ambrose Russell. He is considered one of Tacoma's most prominent architects of historic buildings from the early 1900s. It was placed on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places in 2024.

30. 1619 Sixth Ave - Trinity Presbyterian Church (1922)

The first historic building on the Wedge Historic District walking tour is located at 1619 Sixth Avenue in Tacoma. This Gothic Revival style First United Presbyterian Church was designed in 1922 by two architects who were brothers, Stanley T. and Frederic Shaw. Historically this building has been a place for the community to gather.

31. First Presbyterian Church (1925)

Predating the official founding of New Tacoma by eight months, seven people met with the regional Presbytery on July 27, 1873 to form "The Tacoma Presbyterian Church". This eventually became today's First Presbyterian Church. The financial crash of that year scattered many in the small congregation, but the church was reinstated on September 11, 1877. This church has a long history in Tacoma.

32. First Presbyterian Church (Pastor Rev. McFarland)

Rev. McFarland was vocally against the forced removal of the Chinese community. He is mentioned in the Weathered Diary and there are articles about his opposition in the newspaper. Pastor McFarland was relatively new to Tacoma, having arrived in August 1885. Prior to the events leading up to the expulsion, he'd not had any dealings with the Chinese community.

This Tour is a Driving or Biking Tour.

Sacred Spaces: Tacoma's Historic Sacred Places

Created by Historic Tacoma on July 12th 2022, 7:17:34 pm.

This tour has been viewed 395 times.

Get a QR Code for this tour

Description

This driving tour will acquaint you with the numerous historic churches of Tacoma, their architects, and the various communities of people who established these houses of worship. It is an adaptation of a booklet previously published by Historic Tacoma.

BESbswy

Entries on This Tour

Sacred Spaces: Tacoma's Historic Sacred Places

Description

Share