Peninsula Lutheran Church (Gig Harbor, Wash.)

Four separate congregations--First Evangelical of Olalla, Immanuel of Cromwell, Bethel of Wollochet, and First of Gig Harbor-- all merged in the early 1950s to form Peninsula Lutheran Church. These individual congregations had their own church buildings prior to the merger and held services at least twice a month. Among the congregations were organized Sunday Schools, Ladies’ Aids, Lutheran Daughters of the Reformation, Luther Leagues, and choirs. The final decision for a merger came on located on the Tacoma-Bremerton highway in the center of the Gig Harbor Peninsula, was purchased the following May 15. It was decided to move the church of Immanuel Lutheran to the new site, and this took place in July of 1952. A new parsonage was built in 1958. A new education building was dedicated on May 19, 1963. Building of a new sanctuary began in the spring of 1970 and the first service was held there the following Christmas Eve.