First Presbyterian Church, Tacoma

First Presbyterian Church is a historic congregation with roots in 1873, and its present building opened for worship in 1925. Before this Romanesque church was built, the congregation used several earlier homes, including a “tent church” in 1889, when members worshipped for about a year in a large canvas tent after selling one building before the next was ready.

The current church was designed by Ralph Adams Cram, a leading church architect of the early 20th century. Its Romanesque style can be seen in the rounded arches, heavy walls, tile roof, ironwork, terrazzo floors, and carved details. The 165-foot tower was once visible from the harbour and helped guide vessels approaching the waterfront. It also holds a custom two-octave set of chimes made by the J.C. Deagan Company of Chicago.

The building rewards a closer look. The tower features statues of the Four Evangelists, while its octagonal crown carries early Christian symbols. Inside, the 1,100-seat sanctuary includes stained glass, woodwork, mosaic details, and a large Reuter pipe organ. A smaller 150-seat chapel, modelled after Cram’s private chapel in Massachusetts, adds a quieter counterpart to the main space.