As part of the city’s 125th anniversary, Kent honors six congregations on Sunday – All Saints’ Day – that were established before the city’s incorporation in 1890.
Sunday’s theme is “Our Kent pioneers brought their faith with them.” Soon after folks gathered to make their homes in the valley, this commitment was evident.
The Methodist Church, the first congregation established in town in 1860, came one year after the Post Office was established. The first building was on First Avenue and when the Northern Pacific built the railroad behind the church, it was reported that “trains would rush by roaring and screeching, much to the chagrin of the preacher or a timid soloist!”
The Roman Catholic community traces its beginnings to St. Bernard’s Parish at O’Brien, (212th Street today). First Mass in Kent was celebrated in Redman’s Hall in 1899. St. Bernard’s became St. Anthony’s when property was purchased at Second and Titus. In 1924, they built a sanctuary, seating 400 on the corner of Third and Titus. The congregation underwent another name change in 1995, and it is now known as Holy Spirit Parish.
The Presbyterian Church had its beginning in White River, which was the social, educational and religious center of the thinly populated valley. In 1889, they built near Titus and Kennebeck with 12 charter members.
Eight Scandinavian immigrant families organized Kent Lutheran Church in August 1889, and a year later constructed a building on the site that became Kent Elementary School. The original building was moved to Fifth and Gowe when the school was expanded. In 1939, they built on their present site.
For the Baptist church, “because a trip by horse and buggy took so long to travel from Kent to the White River Baptist Church in O’Brien,” a mother and son began collecting money to purchase a lot from Henry Yesler at Fourth and Willis for $2,500 and their first building was constructed.
St. James Episcopal Church planted roots in 1890 when Anglican services were held for 26 families. The next year they dedicated their building, seating 200 on Meeker Street between Second and Third.
St. James embraced the Japanese community in the valley with support for the Taylor Mission, where the word of God was heard in Japanese on Sunday, and on Saturday it was home to a Japanese language school.
Since 1890, a multitude of religious communities have founded places of worship in Kent. The city is home to temples, mosques, churches and parishes, from faiths the world over. We have congregations of the same faith worshiping in a multitude of languages, sometimes in different buildings, sometimes in the same building where the different traditions synthesize into something different but familiar to both.
All of this because 125 years ago our community began on a strong foundation from our pioneer women and men who brought their faith with them when they came to Kent.
Marvin Eckfeldt served as minister of First Christian Church of Kent, retiring in 2000. He became
a Kent resident in 1967.
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