This is the discussion that took place when choosing Church of the Redeemer as the name for the new mission congregation that the North Shore Episcopal Fellowship was starting in 1947. The text (with light editing) was taken from “Redeemer before Redeemer” by Margaret Banks, found in Redeemer: The First Fifty Years.

This is one of several posts celebrating the 75th anniversary of Church of the Redeemer.

Naming Church of the Redeemer

They met again on February 10, [1947,] with many things to plan….

They felt they should choose a name at this meeting, as the first service was to be on the following Sunday and somehow it did not occur to them that they could start services without a name.

They recalled the advice Bishop Huston had given, and sure enough, someone felt there was no name like Saint James, the name of a church they loved in the East. Church of the Redeemer and St. Michael and All Angels also were suggested, as being completely different from any in the diocese at that time, or the Roman Catholic ones.

All were discussed and then voted on by written ballot. The count was four for Saint James, four for Church of the Redeemer. A little more discussion followed, and no one seemed inclined to move any action co break the tie.

Mr. Mohr called Diana, the Banks’ 12-year-old daughter, who had been reading in a corner of the room. She came forward.

“Diana,” said Mr. Mohr, “we are trying to decide the name for this new mission we are starting. Now, this church is more your church than ours, because you and your sister, Karen, and your friends will be here attending it after all of us are gone, So I feel it only fair that you should have a voice in naming the mission. Of these two names, which do you prefer?”

Diana stood still a moment, thinking it over in her serious child’s way, and then she said, “I like Church of the Redeemer. “

A short discussion followed as to whether the name should be “Church of the Redeemer” or “[Church of] Our Redeemer.” Mr. Mohr said that many other churches carried the name as “Our” and he said, “I always have felt that this implied an attempt at exclusiveness, as though claiming Him for theirs alone.” So, it was thought best to leave it as the Church of the Redeemer.

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 6210 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.