Designed by Silas A. Nelson, the modernistic Central Seventh Day Adventist Church at 615 North Sprague Avenue was built in 1952. It is triangular in shape, measuring 154 feet on the Sprague Avenue side, 142 feet on the Sixth Avenue approach and 89 feet on the side facing Grant Avenue. Much of the plywood framing work for the poured concrete walls was done by church members who donated their labor. The first service was held in the church in August of 1953, but it was not officially dedicated until February 1963, when the building was free of debt. In the background is the more traditional spanish gothic design First United Presbyterian Church at 1619 Sixth Ave, by 1958 known as Trinity United and shortened to Trinity in the 1990's.

Churches--Tacoma; Central Seventh Day Adventist Church (Tacoma);

Copy of a customer's print, McGuire & Muri, Architects; artist's rendering of the St Mary's Parish Church & Parrish Hall, Seaview, Wa.

Catholic churches--Seaview, Wa.;

The exterior of the Lincoln Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was photographed on April 22, 1954. The chapel was located at 5016 A Street; it was built primarily with the labor of its congregation. The building was constructed out of concrete block; the exterior appeared to be resurfaced with Perma-Stone. Perma-Stone was a tough, long lasting material which was cast by molds on walls of brick, block, wood, stucco or tile. Photograph ordered by Karl Kaman, contractor.

Mormon churches--Tacoma; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Tacoma); Building materials;

Hidden spotlights give the wooden Nativity scene a warm glow as this night exposure taken on September 19, 1954, shows. Lights also illuminate the church behind the creche; it is believed to be the Little Church on the Prairie in Lakewood. The Nativity figures are painted in muted tones as they all acknowledge the birth of baby Jesus. Hay is spread on the church lawn to give the scene an additional authenticity. Photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association.

Creches (Nativity scenes)--Lakewood; Churches--Lakewood--1950-1960; Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma);

The congregation of the University Place Assembly of God posed for this October 17, 1954, sepia photograph in front of their wood church. There appear to be many young families attending this particular house of worship. The large sign, "Jesus Saves" on the church was probably visible for quite some distance away. A black speaker is positioned above the sign next to the erected cross so that announcements could be heard even in the parking lot. The University Place Assembly of God was located at Mountain View Avenue and South 29th Street. Edwin Oster was listed in the 1954 City Directory as its pastor.

University Place Assembly of God (University Place); Protestant churches--University Place; Churches--University Place; Signs (Notices);

Interior and exterior exposures of St. Charles Borromeo Church and buildings were taken on September 8, 1958. This view has been identified by a reader as the front hall/entryway of St. Charles Borromeo School. There is a large statue of St. Joseph holding a small child on the left. Trophy and display cases now flank the statue today. Over 200 children, up to the sixth grade, were enrolled in the new school taught by Franciscan sisters.The church sanctuary, school, parish hall, gym, convent and rectory may have been completed in 1958. The church building was finished in 1969. Photograph ordered by St. Charles Borromeo Church. (TNT 9-20-58, p. 4) (Additional information provided by a reader)

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Tacoma); Catholic churches--Tacoma; Sculpture--Tacoma;

Dark laminated beams draw attention to the arched wooden ceilings of Messiah Lutheran Church in Auburn. The eye is caught, not only by the dramatic arches, but by the large, simple cross on the brick tower behind the altar. The arches serve to focus concentration on the cross. This July 17, 1958, photograph was taken from the rear of the church, possibly in the choir loft or balcony. From this viewpoint the many rows of wooden pews can be seen. The new $100,000 building included church offices and a conference room in addition to the sanctuary. Built on a concrete slab with glue-laminated arches and partial brick veneer, the Lutheran church was dedicated on Sunday, July 13, 1958 by Dr. Swen L. Swenson. Rev. Carlton L. Berg was to be the new pastor. The church was located at 4th and "H" Sts. N.E. in Auburn. Photograph ordered by Woodlam, Inc. (TNT 7-12-58, p. 4)

Messiah Lutheran Church (Auburn); Lutheran churches--Auburn; Laminated wood;

Interior of unidentified church near Seattle-Tacoma Airport, taken on June 28, 1962. Photograph features unusual open-beamed ceiling, apparently circular, with suspended lighting. Note there are no pews, only folding chairs. There is plenty of natural light with skylight and large windows. This is probably the hexagonal chapel of the Wayside Congregational Christian Church. Located in a former swampy area in Federal Way at Maltby Rd. & 312th St., the newly completed cedar building was connected by a bridge to an education building. Photograph ordered by the National Lumber Manufacturers Association. (TNT 7-25-62, A-9)

Churches;

Interior view of the Temple Beth El's South Temple on May 28, 1964. The Star of David is carved onto the many pews in the sanctuary as well as on the large circular window behind the curtained Ark. Two menorahs flank the bimah. Temple Beth El's South Temple was known as the Talmud Torah Synagogue. It was built in 1925 in the classic Italian Renaissance style with arched ceilings and glass windows. Talmud Torah Synagogue, although more traditionally minded, had merged with Temple Beth Israel in 1960. Now called Temple Beth El, it would sell its North Temple on No. 4th & J in 1964 to the Apostolic Faith Church; four years later, the Tacoma Blood Bank would acquire the Talmud Torah property. It was demolished and a parking lot established in its place. A new synagogue for the combined congregations was dedicated in 1968 at So. 12th & Vassault. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 15) Photograph ordered by Tacoma Realty.

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

McKinley Park Christian Church. Located near E. 40th & Spokane St., the McKinley Park Christian Church had been a presence in the neighborhood for nearly fifty years. The brick-and-wooden church was topped with a white steeple. It had a slanted ramp for those unable to walk up the small stairs. According to the 1965 City Directory, the Rev. Marvel D. Dunbar was pastor of the church. Photograph ordered by Percy Ball, A.I.A.

McKinley Park Christian Church (Tacoma); Churches--Tacoma--1960-1970;

View of St. Paul's Methodist Church. Located at the corner of So. 43rd and So. "L," St. Paul's Methodist Church announced its Golden Jubilee celebration in 1940. A tent structure served as the church in 1890 until a permanent building was erected the following year; designed as a "lecture room and classroom," it was used as the church until a new building was completed in 1905. Through the years many improvements were made to the church property including new windows. Rev. Charles R. Davenport was listed as the pastor in the 1967 City Directory.

St. Paul's Methodist Church (Tacoma); Methodist churches--Tacoma;

On August 18, 1967, Pastor C. Russell Archer pointed out the detail on the arched door of the new home of the Faith Temple, 922-24 So. I St. Standing by him were Chairman of the Board of Trustees Arthur E. Alger (L) and assistant pastor, John R. Shearer. The modified Romanesque structure was previously home to the Swedish Mission Tabernacle and First Covenant Church. First Covenant sold the building in January, 1967, for $55,000 and moved to 3501 So. Orchard. Faith Temple's old church was located at So. 10th & K St. The congregation would march from their old location, now 1001 Martin Luther King Jr Way, to the new pictured church building on August 20th as part of the dedication ceremonies. Photograph ordered by Faith Temple. (TNT ad 8-5-67, p. 4; TNT 8-19-67, p. 5)

Faith Temple (Tacoma); Churches--Tacoma--1960-1970; Archer, C. Russell; Alger, Arthur E.; Shearer, John R.;

Exterior - Temple Baptist Church, 1961. Designed by Silas E. Nelsen and built of reinforced concrete in 1949, the Temple Baptist Church was located at 245 Saint Helens Avenue. Dr. Robert L. Powell was the church's pastor. The sanctuary was completed in 1960. Temple Baptist has been located at 1108 Columbia Ave. in Fircrest since 2001.

Temple Baptist Church (Tacoma); Baptist churches--Tacoma;

Luther Memorial Church, 50th Anniversary service. The English Gothic church at So. 5th and I St. marked its Golden Anniversary on Sunday, October 26th, 1941. The church was officially organized on June 7, 1891 in a W.C.T.U. hall, but the first service was held February 13th in a dance hall. The group was originally called the Zion's English Lutheran Church. The pictured site was purchased in 1892 for $3500. The church was a pioneer in the sparsely settled district. The building, designed by Emanuel J.Bresemann and Marinus Durfee, Architects, was completed in 1910 and dedicated as Saint John's English Lutheran Church; it was later renamed Luther Memorial. The church held its final service after 112 years on November 9th, 2003; the building was sold to Multicare. (T. Times. 10/23/1941, pg. 12)

Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Luther Memorial Church (Tacoma);

Harold A. Johnson works on the mural he has been commissioned to create for the Bethel Pentecostal Church on So. 11th and J St. The church's pastor, the Rev. John W. Moseid, steps up on the artist's platform for a closer look. The mural will be unveiled and discussed by the artist at a special service on January 16, 1943. (T. Times 1/16/1943, pg. 7)

Bethel Pentecostal Assembly (Tacoma); Churches--Tacoma--1940-1950; Murals; Johnson, Harold A.; Moseid, John W.; Artists--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clergy--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Wedding of Bessie Bryan and R. J. Cerveny at First Presbyterian Church. Bride and groom stand in front of building.

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wedding costume--1940-1950; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950; Bryan, Bessie--Marriage; Cerveny, R.J.;

Wedding of Margaret Elizabeth (Betty) Wetherby and Connor E. Gray, Jr. in the Ferguson Chapel at the First Presbyterian Church. The bride is pictured in her wedding gown of white net over satin. It has a sweetheart neckline. She is wearing a bonnet of pleated and shirred net with an attached fingertip veil. The new wedded couple made their home in Seattle. (T. Times 7/14/1941, pg. 7; 7/12/1941, pg. 4)

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wedding costume--1940-1950; Brides--1940-1950; Wetherby, Margaret Elizabeth--Marriage;

On Sunday, November 17, 1940, soldiers from Ft. Lewis, McChord Field and Camp Murrary filled in as the choir at the Independent Bible Church, which met at the former Scottish Rite Cathedral. (T.Times 11/18/1940 p.1)

Independent Bible Church (Tacoma);

Two ministers and another man pose on the 60th anniversary, October 17, 1942, of the First Lutheran Church. Rev. Carl E. Rydell was the current minister, although many of the previous church ministers as well as church officials attended the festivities. The church was organized October 17, 1882 as a missionary enterprise by the Rev. Peter Carlson. Its original members were Swedish and Norwegian, although the Norwegians later left to form their own church. It was the first congregation of Swedish speaking people to be organized in Washington.

First Lutheran Church (Tacoma); Lutheran churches--Tacoma;

Wedding of Nadellia Weglin and Throne J. Eggan at Luther Memorial Church. Bride and groom in front of church. Building by Emanuel J. Bresemann and Marinus Durfee, Architects: 1910.

Lutheran churches--Tacoma; Luther Memorial Church (Tacoma); Weglin, Nadellia--Marriage; Brides--1940-1950; Grooms (Weddings)--1940-1950; Eggan, Throne J.; Weddings--Tacoma--1940-1950; Wedding costume--1940-1950;

The Little Church on the Prairie. The picture of the Church was taken during the wedding photography for Jean McDonald and William Jepson, on August 17, 1941. The structure was formerly a grocery store and was converted into a church with the addition of a steeple, new windows and doors. It was dedicated in 1938, one of the first churches in the new community of Lakewood. Due to its quaint exterior, it was a popular choice for weddings.

Little Church on the Prairie (Lakewood);

Catholic Church of the Visitation. Thirty seven young boys standing in appropriate Catholic choir garb, holding hymn books, ready to sing. Building by C. Frank Mahon, Architect, 1913.

Churches - Catholic Churches - Tacoma - Church of the Visitation Music - Choral Music - Choirs - Church Choirs

First Congregational Church. Exterior view of stone building with stained glass windows and bell tower. The cornerstone of the First Congregational Church was laid September 5, 1907. The first services were held in the Gothic structure a little over a year later on October 11, 1908. The building was designed by noted Tacoma architect George W. Bullard, class of '82 at the University of Illinois.

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Stone buildings;

This photograph of the First Congregational Church, at the corner of Division and South J Street, was taken in April of 1943. The congregation of the First Congregational Church can trace its history in Tacoma back to 1873 when the first church members gathered in a tent in Old Tacoma. The cornerstone for the church at 209 South J was laid September 5, 1907 and the dedicatory services were held December 12, 1909. Designed by George W. Bullard, the church and its adjoining school building are brick faced with Tenino sandstone. Ordered by Rev. Harold Booch, Pastor. [Also dated 04-18-1943]

Congregational churches--Tacoma; First Congregational Church (Tacoma); Stone buildings;

Tacoma Council of Churches breakfast for service men. The Tacoma Council of Churches collaborated with the United Service Organization Travelers Aid Service and hosted a fellowship breakfast for servicemen. Servicemen who participated in the event are seated in the USO lounge. (T. Times, 7/29/44, p. 7).

Military personnel--Tacoma; USO clubs (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Tacoma Council of Churches (Tacoma);

Committee of four ladies for the Catholic Daughters of America.The Catholic Daughters of America was founded in 1903. The organization is made up of Catholic women involved in religious, charitable and educational projects. Pictured are Mrs. Alexander Brewuer, Mrs. Edward C. Grewich, Aimee (Mrs. M.J.) Kenney and Catherine (Mrs. Ashley K.) White.

Catholic Daughters of America (Tacoma); Kenney, Aimee; White, Catherine F.; Public service organizations--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Dwight and Virginia Robinson stand outside St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Old Tacoma wearing some of the fall season's new fashions. Mrs. Robinson is wearing a coat of Bolivia cloth and a Canadian fox collar. Mr. Robinson, president of Western Furnaces, chose a conservative three-button lounge sack guit and a Dobbs hat. The exterior of St. Peter's has weathered and some of the windows are broken. Restoration of the early Tacoma church was begun in 1956. The small, 21 ft. x 45 ft., Carpenter Gothic church was built in 1873. It was designed by Rev. Charles Bonnell. The timber was donated by Hanson-Ackerson Mill and construction took 10 days. The building was placed on the National Register in 1975. Ordered by the Tacoma News Tribune for their fall fashion section. (TNT, 9/11/1952, p.C-7)

Episcopal churches--Tacoma; St. Peter's Episcopal Church (Tacoma); Aged persons--Tacoma; Robinson, Dwight; Robinson, Virginia; Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1950-1960; Spouses--Tacoma;

Members of the Central Seventh Day Adventist Church began construction of their new church in the fall of 1952. They had rented the First Congragational Church at Division Avenue and J Streets since the congregation outgrew their old church on I Street. Plywood concrete forms and steel rebar are in place during construction and two workmen are sawing plywood while standing on scaffolding. Progress photograph ordered by Douglas Fir Plywood Association. (TNT, 9/28/1952, p.C-15)

Douglas Fir Plywood Association (Tacoma); Plywood; Reinforced concrete construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Churches--Tacoma; Central Seventh Day Adventist Church (Tacoma);

Children at the Foursquare Gospel Church let loose their large balloons in celebration of the first Cadet Rally on December 1, 1951. All eyes follow the balloons' upward path. The Foursquare Gospel Church was located at 2303 South Sheridan Avenue and pastored by Rev. Elsworth T. Johnson. Built in 1909, the church was first home to the First Swedish-Finnish Baptist Church before it was purchased by Foursquare Gospel in 1938. (TPL-3864)

Protestant churches--Tacoma; Children playing with toys--Tacoma--1950-1960; Balloons--Tacoma; Foursquare Gospel Church (Tacoma);

The kitchen at the First Presbyterian Church has been recently remodeled. The new stainless steel surfaces on the ovens, stove, sinks and counter tops are gleaming as are the exteriors of the large coffee urns on the right. Large windows are seen on the right. Wooden tables have been added in a row along the middle of the long kitchen providing ample space for large amounts of food to be prepared. (TNT, 1/13/1952, p.C-15) TPL-2267

Presbyterian churches--Tacoma; First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma); Kitchens--Tacoma--1950-1960; Remodeling--Tacoma--1950-1960;