Our History

Since 1908, the church has been beside Fauntleroy Creek in the West Seattle community of Fauntleroy. Rumor has it that a bear visited the construction site on the initial church raising day in 1908!

Here are highlights of our story.

1908-1911


The Church in the Wildwood, 1911

One Saturday in 1908 in the sparsely settled Fauntleroy area, Lawrence J. Colman led 55 men in the construction of "The Church in the Wildwood."  An equal number of women fueled them with food.  The next day, Sunday, July 26, 1908, the group held services in the partially completed "Church that was built in a day."

A year later, the Rev. James Elvin was called to serve as the minister of the yet unaffiliated community church. On July 21, 1911, the church affiliated with the Congregationalists and became known as Fauntleroy Congregational Church.

YMCA FOUNDING

In 1914, Lawrence Colman led the community in erecting a full-scale gymnasium and manual training center adjacent to the church.  The founders envisioned an activity center for community youth. They imagined days spent in Fauntleroy Elementary School (across the street), afternoons and evenings in the community center, and Sundays in the church. In 1924, this new, highly successful community center became a branch of the Seattle YMCA.

EARLY LEADERSHIP


1922 Archive Photo
Asahel Curtis

Agnes Galbraith organized the Sunday school program in 1913. During this time, the church built the first parsonage.  Fauntleroy Church grew steadily during the years after World War I.

1929-1935

The early years of the Big Depression were not easy; in 1933, church membership was 171 and Sunday school enrollment was nearly 200.  Ladies' Fellowship and Men's Fellowship began playing active roles in church life during these years.


1945 Archive Photo

1935-1949

In April of 1935, the Rev. Mary McKee - a rare woman minister at that time - began her pastorate.

During the 10 years she served, church membership and Sunday school attendance reached new levels.  Beginning in 1946, the Rev. Alpheus M. Luskrevitalized church membership, bringing it up to 343 in 1947.


Sanctuary Dedication, May 1952
Roger Dudley

1950s

The increase in membership forced the construction of a new facility.  Under the direction of Dr. Warren Dennison and with the leadership of Rev. Lusk, a fund drive secured the $97,000 needed to underwrite design and construction of a new sanctuary and office wing.

Robert L. Durham, architect and church member, designed the new edifice to be built on the site of the Fauntleroy YMCA, which moved a short distance up the hill to its present location.  Dedication of the new structure, with its famous window wall, occurred on May 25, 1952. In that year, the Little Pilgrim School started in two of the basement Sunday school rooms.

Membership was up to 500 in 1953 and Sunday school enrollment passed 1,000, requiring construction of a larger education wing, which was dedicated in 1958.


Memorial Narthex Window,
May 1965
Ebert Photographers

1960s

Church membership peaked at 1,322 in 1961.  Membership and Sunday school enrollment stayed about the same through the decade.

1970s

he '70's were difficult years for the church as leadership faltered and community demographics underwent major change, as evidenced by the closing of Fauntleroy School. By 1980, church membership had declined to 573 and enrollment in the Sunday school was drastically reduced.


Sanctuary, 2000

1980s - Present

Fresh leadership brought a rebirth of enthusiasm in the church and Sunday school.

Important Dates

Table data courtesy Roy Morse 2/29/00
Year Event
1908 First worship Service 
1909 Reverend James Elvin called as minister
1911 Officially became known as Fauntleroy Congregational Church
1913 First Christian Endeavor Society formed.  Rev. Elvin resigned and Rev. Hubert Burgess called as minister
1914  Fauntleroy gymnasium and manual training center erected
1929 Rev. Burgess resigned and Rev. Robert Baskerville called as minister
1930 Men's Club formed
1933 Rev. Baskerville resigned
1935 Rev. Mary McKee called as minister
1945 Rev. McKee resigned
1946 Navy Chaplain Rev. Alpheus M. Lusk called as minister
1947 Financial drive raised $97,000 for new sanctuary
1949 Carolyn Goddard appointed religious education director
1952 New sanctuary dedicated.  Little Pilgrim School started
1953 Rev. Lusk resigned and Rev. Ernest Yarrow called as minister
1955 Rev. Donald Lamka appointed associate minister
1960 Rev. Frank Kelsey called as associate minister
1961 Rev. Yarrow, Rev Lamka and Rev. Kelsey resigned
1962 Rev. Otto Jonas called as minister
1972 Rev. Harold Fray called as minister
1973 Rev. James Spraker appointed associate minister for education
1980 Both Rev. Spraker and Rev. Gillies, resigned
1984 Rev. Fray resigned
1985  Rev. Dr. David Colwell appointed interim minister
1986 Rev. David Kratz called as minister

Updated: 2000: OS: B. Ackers