“Looking for fellow believers?” That is the unspoken question that The Church In Seattle seems to pose. It stands as a beacon. The Church In Seattle’s name describes it perfectly. It is a place for believers in Seattle. The Church In Seattle welcomes all who believe in Jesus Christ. Guests and visitors are warmly welcomed too even if they are not Christians.
The Church In Seattle isn’t just a name. It is a description. It is an inclusive title. It is not exclusive. The Church In Seattle gathers believers of the Lord. They gather in the city of Seattle. The Church In Seattle welcomes all who believe in Jesus Christ as brothers and sisters. The church also welcomes guests who are not Christian.
The Church In Seattle holds to the faith. This faith is common to all believers. The Bible is the complete divine revelation. It is inspired word by word by God. This inspiration comes through the Holy Spirit. God is uniquely one. Yet God is Triune. He is the Father the Son and the Spirit. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is God Himself. He incarnated as a man named Jesus Christ. Christ died on the cross for our sins. He shed His blood for our redemption. Christ resurrected from the dead on the third day. Christ ascended to God’s right hand. He is Lord of all.
When a person repents to God they believe in Jesus Christ. They are regenerated. They are born again. They become a living member. They become a member of the one Body of Christ. Christ is coming again. He will receive His believers.
Many churches have interesting stories. Seattle’s first church was founded in 1853. It was two years after the Denny party landed at Alki. The first worship service was in a log cabin. The church survived the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. It grew during the 1897 Gold Rush.
Reverend David Edwards Blaine and his wife Catharine arrived at Alki Point in 1853. Rev. Benjamin Close sent them. They were newlyweds from New York State. They traveled by steamer to Panama. Then they sailed north to Seattle. The area had 17 Duwamish villages. It also had a few Euro-American settlers. Rev. Blaine preached to 30 people in Samuel Russell’s log cabin. They raised $12.50.
Traveling by water was best then. The Duwamish paddled Rev. and Mrs. Blaine across the bay. They met Arthur and Mary Denny. The Dennys had arrived at Alki Point two years earlier. They invited the Blaines to stay with them. The first Seattle Methodist Episcopal Church service was at Guthrie Latimer’s house. The founding members were Arthur and Mary Denny John Nagle and Catharine Blaine.
Catharine Paine Blaine was an educated woman. At 18 she signed the first U.S. Women’s Rights document. In 1854 she became Seattle’s first school teacher. Rev. Blaine and settlers built the first house of worship. It was near Second and Columbia. Carson Boren donated the land. It was dedicated on May 15 1855. It was painted white. It was called the Little White Church.
The congregation grew with the city. Chinese immigrant families arrived in the 1870s. The First Methodist Episcopal Church created a mission school. It was for Chinese families in the basement. During the 1886 labor unrest rioters threatened to burn the Little White Church. This was because they helped the immigrants. Rev. Denison and others stood vigil. They stood on the church steps for days. They protected it until order was restored.
In 1889 a grand Gothic Revival church was built. It was at Third and Marion. It was dedicated in September 1889. This was after the Great Seattle Fire. The church was spared. It was outside the fire’s area.
Today The Church In Seattle continues its mission. It offers worship services and Sunday School. It provides community outreach. It serves Shared breakfasts. It relies on donations and volunteers. The Church In Seattle serves over 15000 meals a year. The breakfasts stopped during the COVID-19 crisis. But they resumed in November 2020. The Church In Seattle stands as a testament to faith. It is a beacon of hope in the heart of Seattle.