Seattle First Baptist Church

A Virtual Reality - 360 Degree, Panoramic Tour of Seattle First Baptist Church

The Sanctuary building, designed in English Medieval Gothic style by architect U. Fay Grant, offers inspiration to the many people living within site of its spire and to others visiting or hospitalized in the metropolitan neighborhood of First Hill.

The carvings at the front of the sanctuary, done as part of remodeling projects in 1956 and 1990, are symbolic reminders of our Christian faith. Many of these symbols reflect the parables of Jesus.

At the back of the Sanctuary is the Hintz Memorial Chapel, named after Dr. August Hintz, minister of this church for 15-years.

The lower floor of the sanctuary building contains a large Fellowship Hall, where church dinners and other large meetings are held. It is adjacent to the Church Parlor, kitchen and church library.

A major renovation of the Sanctuary was inaugurated in 1990 by a designated gift from the estate of the late Frank Smith, a longtime member, who wanted the Sanctuary returned to its Gothic tradition. The return to a central pulpit, the use of the Gothic arch and quatrefoil, and retaining the 1956 carvings around the baptistry and communion table, have all been part of that work. The quatrefoil, a design of four leaves representing the cruciform flower, is a symbol prominent in Gothic architecture. Originally on the ends of pews and friezes encircling the balconies, it now appears in the chancel and the large chandelier as a unifying theme. It has ancient religious significance, representing the four directions, the four elements, the four gospels and numerous other things. The central pulpit represents a key principal of Baptist theology that preaching is central to worship.

The beautiful photos in this gallery are 360 degree QuickTime cubic panoramic images and were provided for by Bradford Bohonus of VRSeattle.

Young Children's Center and Nursery

Dr Stephen D. Jones, coordinating pastor, says, "It is the role of adults to welcome children and youth as full members of God's "New Humanity." Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes in my name one of these children, welcomes me." (Mark 9:36) We think it is important that children have trustworthy and respectful friends of all ages in our church. We must protect them from harm,
but also model for them our deepest-held values and open the doors of faith so that they can stretch and grow."

Seattle First Baptist Church opened a new Young Children's Center in May of 2005 in the heart of its gothic sanctuary building. It is close to the church's sanctuary and adjacent to the Fellowship Hall. It is located off the lower Harvard lobby. It is a beautiful two-room facility with child-sized restroom with new furnishings and equipment. One room, the nursery, is especially designed for infants and crawlers and the other for toddlers and preschoolers.

We have two professionally trained early childhood educators who staff our Young Children's Center each Sunday morning and they provide a welcome to children and their parents. The Center is secure and only parents may enter the room on Sunday mornings. Parents are welcome to stay with their child in the center or to leave their child in the room. All parents are given a message device so they can be contacted in the middle of the worship service if there is a special need.

A Photo Tour of the Beautiful Stained Glass Windows that Adorn our Sanctuary

The Stained Glass Windows were installed in 1969 as gifts from members wanting to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the church. These windows were designed by artist Robert Hill in Hogan Studios of Los Gatos, California. They are constructed of antique, hand-blown glass and placed in thick frames of epoxy and cement. There are over 250-variations of gradations of color. Each piece is hand-cut. Some of the pieces are deliberately chipped to reflect required light values.

The four main windows in the nave of the church depict the four periods of Jesus' life. Left to right, facing the baptistry, are the following windows: The Nativity, Jesus' Ministry, The Crucifixion, and Jesus' Ascension.

The five windows next to the ceiling of the balcony from left to right are the following: The Creation, Elijah Ascending to Heaven, Abraham and Isaac, Moses and the Burning Bush, Samuel Anointing King David.

The six windows around the back of the balcony are the Parables of Jesus. From left to right are the following: The House build on a Rock and the House build on Sand, The Lost Sheep, The Wise and Foolish Maidens, The Good Samaritan, The Sower, and the Prodigal Son.

2001 Earthquake Damage to the Sanctuary and Spire

The historic Sanctuary building of Seattle First Baptist Church was dedicated 90 years ago in September 2002. This building was one of many in the area that were damaged during the earthquake on February 28, 2001.

To pay for the restoration we set a goal to collect $90,000 in donations and pledges from our church members and friends by the end of September 2002. Having met this goal, we then qualified for an additional $90,000 in matching funds from an anonymous donor. More that $190,000 has been raised to date to pay for earthquake repairs and to give a portion of these monies to our less fortunate neighbors who also suffered from the earthquake.

This photo gallery documents the damage and the process of restoration of the Sanctuary building to restore the building's architectural, structural integrity and beauty.

2003 Restoration to the Sanctuary and Spire - Part 1

During the earthquake repair to the upper portion of the Harvard Tower (completed in 1912) which sit the four Pinnacles and Spire, the Spire was examined for earthquake damage and weathering.

Examination showed severe dry rot of the underlying wood sheathing and deterioration of the copper covering especially where exposed nails were used to secure the copper sheathing to the underlying wood. In addition most of the seams had leaked over many years of service causing water to seep through to the underlying wood causing further deterioration.

Since the scaffolding was already in place to repair the Harvard tower, it was wisely decided this would be an opportune time to repair the damage to the wood sheathing and weather covering of the Spire, then install a new interlocking copper tiles to complete the restoration of ther Spire. The new copper tiles will cover the entire Spire except for the four original upper and four lower Spire windows, crown and cross.

2003 Restoration to the Sanctuary and Spire - Part 2

After the installation of new copper to the Spire, the final part of the restoration project was the installation of the four new pinnacles to replace the damaged ones. With the final Pinnacle in place, the Spire and Harvard Tower Restoration Project concluded on Thursday, May 1, 2003.

Dedicating the Renovated Tower and Spire of Seattle First Baptist Church

About This Dedication - Sunday May 4, 2003

The tudor gothic sanctuary of Seattle First Baptist Church is one of the city’s historic and architectural gems. Standing at a crossroads between First Hill and Capitol Hill, between the alternative district on Broadway and the medical community on First Hill, between Seattle University and Central Seattle Community College, its 168 foot tall spire has been a beacon of light and hope to the city since it was constructed in 1912. The earthquake damage and subsequent renovation is one of the most significant in the city. This church’s unwavering commitment to remain in the city and in this neighborhood has been the driving force enabling the rededication of our building today. We give thanks to God for the foresight of the members of our church in building such a magnificent structure and in the sacrifice and commitment of our members today in preparing it as a center of worship and mission for the 21st century.

The Nisqually Earthquake that struck this region on Ash Wednesday, 2001 did serious damage to our church. The upper section of one of the large pinnacles on the Spire tumbled down onto the building, closing our sanctuary for a month and causing serious damage to the Whitman Room. All four pinnacles were either dislodged or damaged and subsequently removed. The damage occurred mostly to the Harvard Tower. Upon closer examination, the copper sheathing on the Spire was found to be in serious disrepair. This was only partially related to the earthquake but was discovered once scaffolding was installed on the tower. New sheathing was installed, the four crosses over the lower dormer windows on the spire were repaired and replaced, and new pinnacles were installed.

We express our heart-felt gratitude today for the countless hours given by the Earthquake Repair Team: Bob Sittig and David Greene. Kathy Doolin devoted countless hours to the project, as well as other members of the church staff.

We also express our heart-felt gratitude to the Steeple People Team: Mike Zaugg, David Greene, Virgil Tollefson, Jim Segaar, Jim Ginn, Bonnie Taylor, and Bob Sittig and others who provided time and expertise.

We express our thanks for a wonderful group of contractors who have given so much to repairing our facility: Maxima Construction Services, VSM Contractors, Safway Steel Products, Pioneer Masonry and Star Fiberglass.

We express our thanks to all the members and friends of SFBC who participated in two capital fund drives to pay for these renovations: The Earthquake Repair Fund and the 90/90/90 Campaign, and to the anonymous foundation that provided matching funds. We express our special thanks to the Stewardship Commission for organizing these campaigns.

We express gratitude for the Compass Center, a homeless shelter in downtown Seattle also damaged in the Nisqually Earthquake. A percentage of all our giving went through United Way to agencies like the Compass Center to assist them in their repairs, a gift totaling, $23,716.

The cost of replacing the copper sheathing on the Spire was not anticipated in our capital fund drives over the past several years. This has been paid for using all the historical reserves in the interest account of our Building Endowment Fund. This interest account is now depleted for this year and next. Special gifts to pay for the renewed Spire are appreciated. We express our thanks to the Church Operations Commission for their leadership and commitment to this project.

Partners in Peacemaking

Photos from various peacemaking events over the years.

Historic Photos of our Neighborhood

Seattle First Baptist Church was built on the southwest corner of Harvard Avenue and Seneca and held its first worship service in September 1912. This gallery of historic photos are of our church and of our neighbors during those early years.

Historic Photos of Seattle

This gallery contains some of the earliest know photos of Seattle and our first church building on Fourth Avenue between Cherry and James.

Just for Fun

Have you ever wondered what if this could happen? This gallery is a collection of images or photos submitted by our creative members. Imagine…

Web Site Design and Hosting by: Kellie-Media.com


A Virtual Reality - 360 Degree, Panoramic Tour of Seattle First Baptist Church
The Sanctuary building, designed in English Medieval Gothic style by architect U. Fay Grant, offers inspiration to the many people living within site of its spire and to others visiting or hospitalized in the metropolitan neighborhood of First Hill. The carvings at the front of the sanctuary, done as part of remodeling projects in 1956 and 1990, are symbolic reminders of our Christian faith. Many of these symbols reflect the parables of Jesus. At the back of the Sanctuary is the Hintz Memorial Chapel, named after Dr. August Hintz, minister of this church for 15-years. The lower floor of the sanctuary building contains a large Fellowship Hall, where church dinners and other large meetings are held. It is adjacent to the Church Parlor, kitchen and church library. A major renovation of the Sanctuary was inaugurated in 1990 by a designated gift from the estate of the late Frank Smith, a longtime member, who wanted the Sanctuary returned to its Gothic tradition. The return to a central pulpit, the use of the Gothic arch and quatrefoil, and retaining the 1956 carvings around the baptistry and communion table, have all been part of that work. The quatrefoil, a design of four leaves representing the cruciform flower, is a symbol prominent in Gothic architecture. Originally on the ends of pews and friezes encircling the balconies, it now appears in the chancel and the large chandelier as a unifying theme. It has ancient religious significance, representing the four directions, the four elements, the four gospels and numerous other things. The central pulpit represents a key principal of Baptist theology that preaching is central to worship. The beautiful photos in this gallery are 360 degree QuickTime cubic panoramic images and were provided for by Bradford Bohonus of VRSeattle.

Young Children's Center and Nursery
Dr Stephen D. Jones, coordinating pastor, says, "It is the role of adults to welcome children and youth as full members of God's "New Humanity." Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes in my name one of these children, welcomes me." (Mark 9:36) We think it is important that children have trustworthy and respectful friends of all ages in our church. We must protect them from harm, but also model for them our deepest-held values and open the doors of faith so that they can stretch and grow." Seattle First Baptist Church opened a new Young Children's Center in May of 2005 in the heart of its gothic sanctuary building. It is close to the church's sanctuary and adjacent to the Fellowship Hall. It is located off the lower Harvard lobby. It is a beautiful two-room facility with child-sized restroom with new furnishings and equipment. One room, the nursery, is especially designed for infants and crawlers and the other for toddlers and preschoolers. We have two professionally trained early childhood educators who staff our Young Children's Center each Sunday morning and they provide a welcome to children and their parents. The Center is secure and only parents may enter the room on Sunday mornings. Parents are welcome to stay with their child in the center or to leave their child in the room. All parents are given a message device so they can be contacted in the middle of the worship service if there is a special need.

A Photo Tour of the Beautiful Stained Glass Windows that Adorn our Sanctuary
The Stained Glass Windows were installed in 1969 as gifts from members wanting to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the church. These windows were designed by artist Robert Hill in Hogan Studios of Los Gatos, California. They are constructed of antique, hand-blown glass and placed in thick frames of epoxy and cement. There are over 250-variations of gradations of color. Each piece is hand-cut. Some of the pieces are deliberately chipped to reflect required light values. The four main windows in the nave of the church depict the four periods of Jesus' life. Left to right, facing the baptistry, are the following windows: The Nativity, Jesus' Ministry, The Crucifixion, and Jesus' Ascension. The five windows next to the ceiling of the balcony from left to right are the following: The Creation, Elijah Ascending to Heaven, Abraham and Isaac, Moses and the Burning Bush, Samuel Anointing King David. The six windows around the back of the balcony are the Parables of Jesus. From left to right are the following: The House build on a Rock and the House build on Sand, The Lost Sheep, The Wise and Foolish Maidens, The Good Samaritan, The Sower, and the Prodigal Son.

2001 Earthquake Damage to the Sanctuary and Spire
The historic Sanctuary building of Seattle First Baptist Church was dedicated 90 years ago in September 2002. This building was one of many in the area that were damaged during the earthquake on February 28, 2001. To pay for the restoration we set a goal to collect $90,000 in donations and pledges from our church members and friends by the end of September 2002. Having met this goal, we then qualified for an additional $90,000 in matching funds from an anonymous donor. More that $190,000 has been raised to date to pay for earthquake repairs and to give a portion of these monies to our less fortunate neighbors who also suffered from the earthquake. This photo gallery documents the damage and the process of restoration of the Sanctuary building to restore the building's architectural, structural integrity and beauty.

2003 Restoration to the Sanctuary and Spire - Part 1
During the earthquake repair to the upper portion of the Harvard Tower (completed in 1912) which sit the four Pinnacles and Spire, the Spire was examined for earthquake damage and weathering. Examination showed severe dry rot of the underlying wood sheathing and deterioration of the copper covering especially where exposed nails were used to secure the copper sheathing to the underlying wood. In addition most of the seams had leaked over many years of service causing water to seep through to the underlying wood causing further deterioration. Since the scaffolding was already in place to repair the Harvard tower, it was wisely decided this would be an opportune time to repair the damage to the wood sheathing and weather covering of the Spire, then install a new interlocking copper tiles to complete the restoration of ther Spire. The new copper tiles will cover the entire Spire except for the four original upper and four lower Spire windows, crown and cross.

2003 Restoration to the Sanctuary and Spire - Part 2
After the installation of new copper to the Spire, the final part of the restoration project was the installation of the four new pinnacles to replace the damaged ones. With the final Pinnacle in place, the Spire and Harvard Tower Restoration Project concluded on Thursday, May 1, 2003.

Dedicating the Renovated Tower and Spire of Seattle First Baptist Church
About This Dedication - Sunday May 4, 2003 The tudor gothic sanctuary of Seattle First Baptist Church is one of the city’s historic and architectural gems. Standing at a crossroads between First Hill and Capitol Hill, between the alternative district on Broadway and the medical community on First Hill, between Seattle University and Central Seattle Community College, its 168 foot tall spire has been a beacon of light and hope to the city since it was constructed in 1912. The earthquake damage and subsequent renovation is one of the most significant in the city. This church’s unwavering commitment to remain in the city and in this neighborhood has been the driving force enabling the rededication of our building today. We give thanks to God for the foresight of the members of our church in building such a magnificent structure and in the sacrifice and commitment of our members today in preparing it as a center of worship and mission for the 21st century. The Nisqually Earthquake that struck this region on Ash Wednesday, 2001 did serious damage to our church. The upper section of one of the large pinnacles on the Spire tumbled down onto the building, closing our sanctuary for a month and causing serious damage to the Whitman Room. All four pinnacles were either dislodged or damaged and subsequently removed. The damage occurred mostly to the Harvard Tower. Upon closer examination, the copper sheathing on the Spire was found to be in serious disrepair. This was only partially related to the earthquake but was discovered once scaffolding was installed on the tower. New sheathing was installed, the four crosses over the lower dormer windows on the spire were repaired and replaced, and new pinnacles were installed. We express our heart-felt gratitude today for the countless hours given by the Earthquake Repair Team: Bob Sittig and David Greene. Kathy Doolin devoted countless hours to the project, as well as other members of the church staff. We also express our heart-felt gratitude to the Steeple People Team: Mike Zaugg, David Greene, Virgil Tollefson, Jim Segaar, Jim Ginn, Bonnie Taylor, and Bob Sittig and others who provided time and expertise. We express our thanks for a wonderful group of contractors who have given so much to repairing our facility: Maxima Construction Services, VSM Contractors, Safway Steel Products, Pioneer Masonry and Star Fiberglass. We express our thanks to all the members and friends of SFBC who participated in two capital fund drives to pay for these renovations: The Earthquake Repair Fund and the 90/90/90 Campaign, and to the anonymous foundation that provided matching funds. We express our special thanks to the Stewardship Commission for organizing these campaigns. We express gratitude for the Compass Center, a homeless shelter in downtown Seattle also damaged in the Nisqually Earthquake. A percentage of all our giving went through United Way to agencies like the Compass Center to assist them in their repairs, a gift totaling, $23,716. The cost of replacing the copper sheathing on the Spire was not anticipated in our capital fund drives over the past several years. This has been paid for using all the historical reserves in the interest account of our Building Endowment Fund. This interest account is now depleted for this year and next. Special gifts to pay for the renewed Spire are appreciated. We express our thanks to the Church Operations Commission for their leadership and commitment to this project.

Partners in Peacemaking
Photos from various peacemaking events over the years.

Historic Photos of our Neighborhood
Seattle First Baptist Church was built on the southwest corner of Harvard Avenue and Seneca and held its first worship service in September 1912. This gallery of historic photos are of our church and of our neighbors during those early years.

Historic Photos of Seattle
This gallery contains some of the earliest know photos of Seattle and our first church building on Fourth Avenue between Cherry and James.

Just for Fun
Have you ever wondered what if this could happen? This gallery is a collection of images or photos submitted by our creative members. Imagine…