This describes the construction of the old church building by congregants of Church of the Redeemer in 1950-1952. This gave the congregation a place to hold services, a parish hall, office space, and classroom space. This building is still in use (Education Building and church office), although the parish hall building has been removed. The text and pictures were taken from “A decade of beginnings” by Scott Daniel, found in Redeemer: The First Fifty Years.
This is one of several posts celebrating the 75th anniversary of Church of the Redeemer.
Building the old church building
At the Annual Meeting of February 19, 1950, Father Markgraf was already preparing future building plans. It was hoped that the church could erect an entirely new and original building to free up the former Lutheran hall for the church school and to accommodate parish expansion. On February 28, this plan was approved by the Bishop’s Committee, on the condition that the fee for the architect would not exceed $100. The plan was accepted in place of one which would merely have enlarged the hall already in use.
True to form, the mission once more lost its priest. Father Markgraf moved south to California on September 1, 1950, leaving the Church of the Redeemer and St. John’s, Kirkland, under the guidance of the newly-appointed Reverend Alfred L. Griffiths. It was unfortunate that Father Markgraf chose to leave before the new building, his brainchild, was completed in February of 1952.
The completion of the new building was a monumental achievement for the church. Designed by Seattle architect Robert Durham, the new building was capable of accommodating 100 people and was designed for easy expansion in case of a major growth in population. The building was constructed in three stages, beginning with the construction of the main worship area, continuing with the construction of classroom space (which now holds Redeemer’s nursery and parish office), and finishing with the construction of a breezeway addition. This breezeway connected the new building and the old Lutheran parish hall, which was pressed into service once again as a nursery, kitchen and fellowship hall.
Now the church had a home to call its own, a home which it built with its own hands, a home of which it could truly feel proud. This home was the culmination of seven years of hard work starting with the first few pioneers of the Lake Forest Park clubhouse, and ending with the men and women of the Church of the Redeemer. The church was just a mission at the time, but we were as strong in unity and action as any church could be. The people were truly blessed, not only by God, but by their own work and sacrifices for the good of the church.
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.