Peace Lutheran Church (Puyallup, Wash.)

Just before the turn of the century, a lot of Germans settled in the Puyallup Valley. Desiring to hold worship services, they contacted neighboring pastors from the Tacoma area beginning in 1890. The first resident pastor was M. F. Oertel who came in 1895. The congregation was formally organized on May 22, 1898. The present church was purchased from the First Unitarian Society of Puyallup, whose president was Ezra J. Meeker. The church lot is part of the land grant issued to Meeker in 1864. The parsonage on East Pioneer was completed in June, 1925, financed by several churches in the area who were sharing a pastor with Peace at that time. In 1937 the church was renovated, the parish hall enlarged, and a pipe organ installed. An educational unit was completed in 1961, the sanctuary was remodeled, and the parish hall refurbished. In May or 1967 a new parsonage at 914 – 19th Street Northwest was dedicated. Peace is, in a sense, the mother of Celebration Lutheran in south suburban Puyallup. They had purchased property with a view towards moving, but decided not to make the move. They then gave the property to the American Lutheran Church for the starting of a mission congregation.