Vashon Lutheran Church

This folder contains various newsletters, a congregational historical record, a bulletin from their 75th anniversary, a directory from 1977-78, a bulletin from their 60th anniversary, a 50th anniversary booklet, a booklet from their 75th anniversary, a bulletin from their dedication, various letters, a bulletin from 1964, a congregational statistical record, a program from dedication Sunday in 1962, a letter of call, invitation to a tea, building fund finance plan, and a newspaper article about the groundbreaking.

A group of Norwegian Lutherans living on Vashon Island met together to hold services in the Vashon schoolhouse on April 9, 1903. Rev. M. A. Christensen conducted the services and was called at that meeting to be pastor of the newly formed congregation of 20 members. The congregation was officially organized as the Vashon Evangelical Lutheran Congregation on Sunday, March 4, 1907. On September 29 of that year the cornerstone for a new church was laid, with dedication of the structure taking place on July 11, 1909. Later in that year a parsonage was erected on the same property. Vashon was served by part-time pastors from Seattle, Tacoma, and other areas until 1945, when Rev. Lowell Satre came as the first full-time resident pastor. In 1959 a four-acre site was purchased for a new church, which was completed and dedicated on September 2 of that year. In memory of Lt. Col. Clyde Smith, a set of carillon bells were dedicated in 1963.