OUR HISTORY: Overview Chronology Important Dates
Since 1908, the church has been beside Fauntleroy Creek in the West Seattle
community of Fauntleroy. 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.
1935-1949
1945
Archive Photo
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.
1950s
Sanctuary Dedication, May 1952
Roger
Dudley
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.
1960s
Memorial Narthex Window,
May 1965
Ebert
Photographers
Church membership peaked at 1,322 in 1961. Membership and Sunday
school enrollment stayed about the same through the decade.
1970s
The '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.
1980s - Present
Sanctuary, 2000
Fresh leadership brought a rebirth
of enthusiasm in the church and Sunday school.