Formerly: Seattle First United Methodist Church Formerly: First Methodist Episcopal Church Built: 1907-1908 Cost: $205,000 Designed by: James Schack and Daniel Huntington Type: Entertainment Venue Location: 811 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, United States
T his is a wonderful departure for ecclesiastical architecture, especially considering the fact that the building is so old. Gone are the vaulted gables reaching to the Heavens. Instead, a round red roof encourages the faithful to look inward for salvation. This isn't only the first Methodist church in Seattle, its congregation represents the first church in Seattle, period. It was started in 1853, just two years after the first exploration party landed on Alki Beach. They've come a long way from their log cabin roots. The current sanctuary has a 66-foot-high ceiling underneath its dome covered with orange tiles.
May 9, 1996: The Washington State Supreme Court blocked an attempt by the Seattle Landmarks Board to designate First United Methodist Church a landmark. The church actually sued to have the designation blocked arguing that it would abridge its right to free exercise of religion. It turned out that the church had hired a real estate developer to look at future possibilities for the church site, including demolition of the church.
July, 2008: The 1950's annex is torn down to make way for a new skyscraper. In doing so it was revealed that the church sustained considerable damage from earthquakes and needed of repair. The skyscraper project was put on hold until the church could be taken care of.
Mid-2008: The congregation moved out of this building to a temporary facility at 190 Queen Anne Avenue North until its new building at Second and Denny could be completed.
Laurel
Wednesday, November 8th, 2006 @ 4:44pm
Rating: Five stars. The inside, the dome, the stained glass windows, and the acoustics, of this church is amazing. I was able to sing there and even just a couple of voices could fill the building with sound.
david dunkle
March 31st, 2003
Interesting. A similar Methodist church, same shape, similar size, is the Methodist church in El Dorado Arkansas, of all places!
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Laurel
Five stars.