This describes the first service of Church of the Redeemer on Quinquagesima Sunday, February 16, 1947, at the former clubhouse of the Lake Forest Park Civic Club. It is taken from the chapter “Redeemer before Redeemer,” written by Margaret Banks in about 1960. She was the historiographer and one of the founders of the congregation. This is from Redeemer: The First Fifty Years.
This is one of several posts celebrating the 75th anniversary of Church of the Redeemer.
The first service
Few services will ever be more joyous for those persons present than the first service of Church of the Redeemer,
First they surprised and delighted the Bishop by having a cross, movable altar rails, and kneeling benches ready for use. Mrs. Banks had made the rails and had a cabinetmaker friend make a wooden cross, mounted on a three-step base, which Mr. Banks gilded. The kneeling benches had been given to them by the disbanded group which formerly had met in the clubhouse. An oak table belonging to the club was pushed against the natural stone fireplace. The gray stone formed a background for the cross and improvised altar. Mrs. Stanley was on hand to help prepare the vessels and linens brought by Bishop Huston and candles were used in brass candlesticks loaned by Mrs. Mohr. Flowers, altar rails, kneeling benches and chair were in place when the Bishop arrived. Mr. Mohr had typed service sheets and in planning the service according to Prayer Book rubrics, one hymn was:
I love Thy Kingdom, Lord,
The house of thine abode,
The Church our blest Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood.
Then when they knelt at the altar for the Holy Eucharist they were deeply moved and grateful, and felt they were especially under Our Blessed Lord’s care. After the service Bishop Huston asked those interested in forming a mission to remain. Almost everyone present did so, and he talked to them of the need for the spread of Christ’s Kingdom on Earth and said each one should consider himself a missionary. “But do not approach those who already have a church home, ” he said. “There are enough unchurched persons to fill this church and more. I have no patience with sheep stealers. ” Then he asked that all those seriously interested sign a formal petition. Fifteen happy but humble persons petitioned “Reverend Father in God….We put ourselves in your charge and will reverently obey your authority…”
The picture of the club house is how it looked in 1947. It is courtesy of the Shoreline Historical Museum. Earlier pictures show it a dark color in black and white photos, possibly brown. This original club house building burned down the same time the dedication service for the current Redeemer church building was happening.
Church of the Redeemer
Welcome to Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.
Church of the Redeemer is at 6220 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. We are a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.
The Episcopal Church welcomes you.