First Congregational Church (Revision)

First Congregational Church, 1960s (WA State Archives)

First Congregational Church (now called Westminster Congregational Church), located next to Lewis and Clark High School, has a long history that begins in 1938 when Congregationalists began to arrive in the Spokane area.[1] A group working with the local Indian tribes coalesced over the decades, eventually forming a church in 1879 that met in the home of Henry Cowley, who also became the first pastor, then met for two years in the local schoolhouse.[2] The church built its first building (a small wood structure) at the corner of Sprague and Barnard in 1881, but sold it shortly after the Great Fire of Spokane in 1889. In the aftermath, under the leadership of the renowned revivalist Jonathan Edwards who served as pastor from 1886 to 1891, the members sold the land and moved to the present location, building a new church in 1893. This structure was built of stone, sending the intentional message that First Congregational Church was committed to the rebuilding of the city and that it was there to stay. The bell installed in the tower was a gift from Rev. Cushing Eells, one of the founding Congregationalists from the earliest period, and it served not only to call Sunday-morning worshippers, but as the warning bell for the Spokane Fire Department.

The building has evolved significantly over the years, most obviously in 1926 with the reinforcement of the main spire on the northwest corner (which altered its conical shape to create the current square shape) and the addition of a tower on the east corner where there was originally an open porch. These alterations were undertaken primarily to expand the interior space; aside from the additions, the exterior stone was left intact. This is important, as the uneven coursework is an unusual, even iconic feature that sets the church apart from others.

First Congregational Church, NW Corner (Spokane Library)

The Church has been central to Spokane society for almost 130 years, hosting not just Sunday services, but many other notable events including revival meetings, holiday rallies, and community events.[3] Having benefitted from grants by the Spokane Preservation Advocates’ Heritage Fund, First Congregational Church is still in excellent condition, and it remains a beloved Spokane landmark.

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[1] HRN nomination; Jonathan Edwards, An Illustrated History of Spokane County (H.L. Lever Publishers, 1900), 163.

[2] “A Brief History of Westminster Congregational UCC Church” from the Westminster UCC website, http://www.westminsterucc.org/Exploring/WestminsterHistory/tabid/58730/Default.aspx; Clifford M. Drury, A tepee in his front yard: a biography of H. T. Cowley, one of the four founders of the city of Spokane, Washington, 1949; Edwards, An Illustrated History of Spokane, 164.

[3] Spokane Spokesman Review, September 23, 1913; Spokane Spokesman Review, December 23, 1894.