Church classrooms. The University Place Assembly of God church had many small children attending church along with their parents. The church provided cozy classrooms with appropriate sized furniture for the youngsters. View of cheerful classroom was taken on October 21, 1954; small wooden chairs with curved armrests are just the right size for the rectangular working table. Bright stars decorate the nearby chalkboard and colorful pictures are positioned on walls and even on the toy chest. A thick rug gives additional warmth to the room.

University Place Assembly of God (University Place); Protestant churches--University Place; Churches--University Place; Sunday schools--University Place; Classrooms--University Place;

The "ultra-modern" St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Lakewood was dedicated in September, 1957. It was designed by architect Robert Billsbrough Price and built by the Korsmo Brothers. The unusual A-framed building appears to have had heavy duty laminated beams anchoring it to cement blocks. These beams are very similar to those glue-lam beams installed in the cafetorium at the new Henry F. Hunt Junior High School in Tacoma, which was also designed by architect Price. Photograph ordered by Woodlam, Inc.

St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Lakewood); Episcopal churches--Lakewood;

Trinity Lutheran Church, 121st St. and So. Park Ave., Parkland. Trinity was the area's largest Lutheran church. It was designed by John Richards of Lea, Pearson & Richards, architects. The main sanctuary could seat 800-1,000 people. A parsonage was added in 1961, designed by the same architectural firm. The church was remodeled in 1993, under the direction of the BJSS Group, architects. (TNT 3/8/1959, pg. C-15)

Trinity Lutheran Church (Parkland); Lutheran churches--Parkland;

Trinity Lutheran Church, 121st St. and So. Park Ave., Parkland. Three bells adorn the tower above the Trinity Lutheran Church, designed by John Richards of Lea, Pearson & Richards, Architects. Trinity was the area's largest Lutheran church; its sanctuary could seat 800-1000 worshipers. It was dedicated on March 8, 1959 and over 2600 persons attended the dedication. (TNT 3/8/1959, pg. C-15)

Trinity Lutheran Church (Parkland); Lutheran churches--Parkland;

Trinity Lutheran Church, 121st St. and So. Park Ave., Parkland. This bas relief over the main entrance was designed by Pacific Lutheran College Assistant Professor of Art George Roskos. It illustrates the parable of the sower. The 3 ton sculpture relates how the word and the seed need friendly soil. The first figure on the left is depicted preaching the word and sowing the seed. The next group depicts non-concern and egotism, also the birds eat the seed. The next seed are cast in rocky and shallow soil and wither away. The next group of figures have the trappings of the church, but still show lack of interest. The third group shows greed and lust for riches, as one of them clutches a money bag. In the group furtherest to the right, all seven figures hold a reaper. The seed has been planted in rich, deep soil and is bearing fruit. During the design period, the artist worked with a 5 x 18 foot canvas and applied wire lath and clay. It took 1500 pounds of plaster to make a 14 piece mold. The mold was filled with aggregate. The sculpture weighed 3 tons and was lifted up at either end with 1 ton hoists. The area's largest Lutheran Church was dedicated on March 3, 1959. Over 2600 persons attended the dedication. (TNT 3/8/1959, pg. C-15, 3/22/1959, pg. C-17)

Trinity Lutheran Church (Parkland); Lutheran churches--Parkland; Bas-reliefs;

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Located mere blocks from Pacific Avenue, Good Shepherd is still an active church some 36 years after this photograph was taken on February 16, 1970. This is the new sanctuary of Good Shepherd's; it would be dedicated on March 8, 1970, with a procession from the old chapel to the new. Constructed out of cedar and trimmed with stone, the large building had a full basement for social activities. The freestanding tower houses Maas-Rowe carillions which were a memorial gift to the church. The buildings and their contents had an estimated worth of $250,000. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co. (TNT 3-6-70, D-5)

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Wooden churches--Tacoma;

Parsonage at Good Shepherd. This is believed to be the contemporary two-story parsonage belonging to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. The church is located close to Pacific Ave. at 140 E. 56th St. The parsonage is believed to be located at 131 E. 58th St. Rev. Roland Koch is listed in the 1970 City Directory as the church's pastor. Photograph ordered by Cheney Lumber Co.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Religious dwellings--Tacoma;

Exterior exposure of Temple Beth El's South Temple, formerly known as Talmud Torah Synagogue and Sinai Temple. Designed by architects Hill & Mock, and built by contractors Knoell & Westerfield in 1925, the Italian Renaissance Romanesque Talmud Torah Synagogue was located at So. 4th & I Sts. Its congregation was more traditionally minded than Temple Beth Israel's reformists, however in 1960 both congregations voted to merge. Rabbi Richard Rosenthal was elected to lead the combined congregations, now called Temple Beth El. Temple Beth Israel on No. 4th St. was sold in 1964 to the Apostolic Faith Church and Talmud Torah, the South Temple, was sold in 1968 to the Tacoma Blood Bank. The Talmud Torah was demolished and its site used as a parking lot for Tacoma General Hospital. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Realty. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 15) TPL-8677

Talmud Torah Synagogue (Tacoma); Synagogues--Tacoma;

Exterior of unidentified church under construction. This circular church was in the process of being built in the spring of 1966. It was located in the Burien area, at approximately 132nd and 2nd Ave. The building had steel framing. Photograph ordered by National Blower & Sheet Metal Co.

Building construction--Burien--1960-1970; Churches--Burien--1960-1970;

Church under construction. This unidentified church in the Burien area would be built with secure steel framing in the spring of 1966. It would have a unique circular appearance including steel roof. The church was located approximately at 132nd & 2nd Ave. Photograph ordered by National Blower & Sheet Metal Co.

Building construction--Burien--1960-1970; Churches--Burien--1960-1970; Roofs--Burien;

Sixth Avenue Baptist Church. Located at the intersection of Sixth & Fife, the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church has been a presence in the area since 1924. The church was designed by architects Heath, Gove & Bell and was built of cut stone. An educational wing, to the right of the original imposing edifice, was added in 1963.

Sixth Avenue Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma;

Five members of a Seventh-day Adventist Church pose for a group portrait on November 2, 1968, on the church's Sabbath. The church was located at 1310 So. L St., the former location of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. Photograph ordered by the Tahoma Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Churches--Tacoma; Religious services--Tacoma--1960-1970;

ca. 1931. St. Nicholas Hellenic Tabernacle, 1523 Yakima Ave. So., Tacoma. This Byzantine structure was built in 1925 from a design by architect Silas E. Nelsen. It is now known as St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Bowen # CHU-003

ca. 1931. Trinity Lutheran Church, known as "The Gray Church," at 12115 Park Ave. So., Parkland was built in 1907 and dedicated in 1910. According to "Trinity Lutheran Church of Parkland, Washington 75th Anniversary 1919-1994," the church was designed to be cross-shaped, 70-feet long & 70-feet wide, and built of brick and stone at a cost of $16,000. There was a basement, steeple and many stairs. Nicknamed the "Gray Church," it was located where the south end of Trinity Lutheran Church's present sanctuary now stands. The "Gray Church" was finally demolished in 1957 as the location was being prepared for building the congregation's new church. (Trinity Lutheran Church of Parkland, Washington 75th Anniversary 1919-1994, p.1-2) Bowen # CHU-004

ca. 1931. Trinity Episcopal Methodist Church, 601 E. 35th St., Tacoma. This McKinley Hill church was built in 1913 from a design by Heath & Gove, architects. In 1923, the McKinley Hill Improvement Club and the church worked together to add a community hall at this site. Bowen # CHU-005

ca. 1931. Sprague Memorial Presbyterian Church, 3359 So. 58th St., Tacoma. The church was built in 1891 and has also been known as Edison Presbyterian. Bowen# CHU-014

ca. 1931. Trinity Lutheran Church, 1307 So. I, Tacoma. The church was built in 1886 as the German Lutheran Church. It was designed by architects Farrell & Darmer. It later was named Trinity Lutheran. Trinity Lutheran closed in 1949 after over 50 years. Although the structure was home to other congregations after that time, it was demolished in 1996. Bowen # CHU-029

ca. 1931. Church of Latter Day Saints, 1603 No. Steele St., Tacoma. The church was built in 1892 as Central Christian Church at 1110 So. 3rd St. It was moved to this site in 1906 and remodeled by Frederick Heath at that time. In 1917, it was purchased by the Mormon Church and became their first Tacoma branch. It has since been demolished. Bowen # CHU-031

ca. 1931. Pilgrim Congregational Church, 2213 No. Warner St., Tacoma. The church was built in 1909. Bowen #CHU-036

ca. 1931. Le Sourd Methodist Episcopal Church, 1120 No. Stevens St., Tacoma. The Church was dedicated on March 25, 1917. It was located near the intersection of No. 12th & No. Stevens. Bowen #CHU-046

ca. 1931. Elim Free Evangelical Church, 1402 So. L St., Tacoma. Built in 1921, the church was also known as the Norwegian Congregational Church. Bowen # CHU- 054

ca. 1931. St. John's English Lutheran Church, 424 So. I St., Tacoma. Constructed in 1909, this English Gothic church was designed by architects Bresemann and Durfee. It was later known as Luther Memorial Church. The congregation held its final services in this building in November of 2003; it was sold to Multicare. Bowen #CHU-026

The Lakewood community was growing rapidly in 1938 when the area's first church was dedicated. Contractors converted an abandoned old grocery store into The Little Church on the Prairie by adding a steeple, new windows and doors, and remodled interior. The white picket fence surrounding the church enhanced the Colonial architectural style that was evolving in Lakewood.

ca. 1949. Funeral, Tacoma Hongwanji Buddhist Church, exterior view. Mourners gather behind the flag-covered casket outside the Tacoma Hongwanji Buddhist Church, 1717 Fawcett Ave., in this circa 1949 photograph. There are many large floral tributes including one with "77" emblazed amidst the blooms.

By August of 1924, construction of the massive First Presbyterian Church at 20 Tacoma Avenue South was well underway. Ground had been broken in October of 1923 and the cornerstone laid in early May of 1924. The church, located in the historic Stadium District, was the third building for its congregation. The local architectural firm of Sutton, Whitney & Dugan were given the contract to design this beautiful example of Romanesque architecture. They were assisted by noted Boston church architects, Cram & Ferguson. Ralph Adams Cram would design the church's interior features including the rich wood carvings and stained glass windows. First Presbyterian was dedicated in September of 1925. TPL-516; G22.1-201; BU-11,528

First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1920-1930;

This group of children and young adults is probably celebrating Purim in March of 1928 at the Talmud Torah Synagogue, 901 South 4th St. The News Tribune noted that a play entitled "The Festival of the Feasts with the cast of 12 under the direction of Miss Lillian Friedman, will be presented. G20.1-022 (TNT 03/05/1928) The date in the photographer's daybook indicates the time of Passover, but that is likely in error.

Talmud Torah Synagogue (Tacoma); Synagogues--Tacoma;

St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 602 Broadway, appears almost obscured by a curtain of enormous trees in this December, 1928, photograph. Only the steeple can be seen clearly. The church had an English Gothic appearance and was built in 1883 using gray sandstone from the Wilkeson quarries. Charles B. Wright had pledged $30,000 (then a considerable sum) towards construction of a church in tribute to his daughter, Kate Elizabeth Wright. Portland architect Joseph Sherwin's plans were based on an old English country church admired by another Wright daughter, Annie Wright. The church was dismantled in 1934 and re-assembled, brick-by- brick, at No. 36th & Gove. Reconstruction would not be complete until 1947.

St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Tacoma); Churches--Tacoma--1920-1930; Protestant churches--Tacoma; Episcopal churches--Tacoma;

Mt. Tacoma (Rainier) from the banks of the Puyallup River, circa 1902. The building to the right is the Puyallup Indian Church, built in 1880 or 1881 with lumber hauled by horse and wagon from Old Tacoma. It was based on Presbyterian teachings and had many prominent Indians, such as Thomas Stolyer, as members. The church was located close to the Puyallup Indian cemetery. (Copied by Mary Randlett)

Rainier, Mount (Wash.); Puyallup River (Wash.); Puyallup Indian Church (Tacoma);

ca. 1887. This is St. Luke's Episcopal Church as it looked c1887 when it stood at 602 Broadway. St. Luke's was built in 1883 with gray sandstone brought from the Wilkeson quarries. In 1934 it was dismantled, and reassembled brick-by-brick at 3601 No. Gove. St.

Churches--Tacoma--1880-1890; St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Tacoma);

The congregation of the German Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church celebrated the dedication of the $8000 church located at South 16th and "L" Sts. on September 27, 1908. Rev. Arthur Spleiss of Sherwood, Oregon, delivered the dedicatory morning service. An afternoon and evening service followed led by Rev. H. Janssen of North Yakima and Rev. W.H. Behrens of Portland respectively. The new church was 44 x 86-feet and had a seating capacity in its auditorium of 500. In addition, there was a large Sunday School room. In 1953 the Miles Memorial CME Church purchased the property. It was demolished in 2004. (TDL 9-27-1908, p. 32-article)

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma--1900-1910; Church dedications--Tacoma;