First Presbyterian Church (Tacoma, Washington) Explained

First Presbyterian Church
Fullname:First Presbyterian Church of Tacoma
Pushpin Map:USA Washington
Relief:yes
Coordinates:47.2632°N -122.4473°W
Location:20 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, Washington
Denomination:ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians
Previous Denomination:Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Churchmanship:Evangelical
Membership:460 (2012)
Founded Date:July, 1873
Architect:Ralph Adams Cram
Style:Romanesque Revival
Completed Date:1925
Construction Cost:$500,000,
Height: (tower)
Presbytery:Northwest & Alaska
Seniorpastor:Dr. Eric Jacobsen[1]
Logosize:250

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]

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 by wide and 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]

Symbol Image Meaning
North Square Eternal life
Northeast Triangle The Trinity
East The Crucifixion of Jesus
Southeast The Five wounds of Christ
South The Trinity
Southwest Biblical sevens: Seven churches, Seven seals, Seven trumpets, etc...
West Greek initials of Jesus Christ surrounded by a circle symbolizing eternity
Northwest The Creator

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Freedman. Samuel G.. Staff Chaplain Sets a Restaurant Chain Apart. New York Times. December 29, 2007.
  2. Web site: Our History. First Presbyterian Church of Tacoma, Washington.
  3. News: Maynard. Steve. Presbytery dismisses four churches in gay spat. The Olympian. April 27, 2012.
  4. Book: McGinnis. Melissa. Beard-Simpkins. Doreen. Tacoma's Wright Park. 2008. Arcadia Publishing. 978-0738559322. 63.
  5. Web site: The Church Tower. First Presbyterian Church of Tacoma.