First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma, Washington)

First Presbyterian Church in Tacoma, Washington is a historic congregation founded in 1873. Its current Romanesque building was designed by noted church architect Ralph Adams Cram, Mr. Earl N. Dugan (Sutton, Whitney and Dugan), who was locally in charge of construction, completed in 1925, and is a landmark of the Stadium District.[2] In 2012 the church voted to leave the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and affiliate with the more Evangelical, ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.[3] The church is adjacent to Tacoma Bible Presbyterian Church, which split off of First Presbyterian in 1935 and purchased the neighboring Scottish Rite Masonic Temple which fronts on the Wright Park Arboretum.[4]

First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church of Tacoma
First Presbyterian Church
47°15′47.6″N 122°26′50.3″W
Location20 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, Washington
CountryUnited States
DenominationECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians
Previous denominationPresbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
ChurchmanshipEvangelical
Membership460 (2012)
Websitefpctacoma.com
History
FoundedJuly, 1873
Architecture
Architect(s)Ralph Adams Cram
StyleRomanesque Revival
Completed1925
Construction cost$500,000, equivalent to $7,289,000 in 2019
Specifications
Height165 feet (50 m) (tower)
Administration
PresbyteryNorthwest & Alaska
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)Dr. Eric Jacobsen[1]

Tower

The architect, Ralph Adams Cram, was a fervent Anglo-Catholic and devoted to imbuing his designs with rich symbolism. This is most visible at First Presbyterian in the decoration of the tower, which in earlier times served as a landmark for ships approaching the Port of Tacoma. It is 22 feet (6.7 m) by 26 feet (7.9 m) wide and 165 feet (50 m) tall. The tower houses a two-octave set of chimes, made by J.C. Deagan Company of Chicago, and the balustrade has a niche in the center of each side with a statue of one of the Four Evangelists. Each side of the octagonal dome bears a Christian symbol:[5]

DirectionSymbolImageMeaning
NorthSquareEternal life
NortheastTriangleThe Trinity
EastGreek CrossThe Crucifixion of Jesus
SoutheastStar of BeautyThe Five wounds of Christ
SouthTriquetraThe Trinity
SouthwestSeven-pointed starBiblical sevens: Seven churches, Seven seals, Seven trumpets, etc...
WestIX MonogramGreek initials of Jesus Christ surrounded by a circle symbolizing eternity
NorthwestSix-pointed starThe Creator
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References
  1. Freedman, Samuel G. (December 29, 2007). "Staff Chaplain Sets a Restaurant Chain Apart". New York Times.
  2. "Our History". First Presbyterian Church of Tacoma, Washington.
  3. Maynard, Steve (April 27, 2012). "Presbytery dismisses four churches in gay spat". The Olympian.
  4. McGinnis, Melissa; Beard-Simpkins, Doreen (2008). Tacoma's Wright Park. Arcadia Publishing. p. 63. ISBN 978-0738559322.
  5. "The Church Tower". First Presbyterian Church of Tacoma.
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