Vashon Lutheran Church (Vashon, Wash.)

A group of Norwegian Lutherans living on Vashon Island met together to hold services in the Vashon schoolhouse on April 9, 1903. Rev. M. A. Christensen conducted the services and was called at that meeting to be pastor of the newly formed congregation of 20 members. The congregation was officially organized as the Vashon Evangelical Lutheran Congregation on Sunday, March 4, 1907. On September 29 of that year the cornerstone for a new church was laid, with dedication of the structure taking place on July 11, 1909. Later in that year a parsonage was erected on the same property. Also part of the parish was an independent congregation called Docton Community Lutheran Church on nearby Maurey Island. This congregation remained a part of the parish until the 1950s when it was discontinued. Vashon was served by part-time pastors from Seattle, Tacoma, and other areas until 1945, when Rev. Lowell Satre came as the first full-time resident pastor. In 1959 a four-acre site was purchased for a new church, which was completed and dedicated on September 2 of that year. In memory of Lt. Col. Clyde Smith, a set of carillon bells were dedicated in 1963. A missionary, Dr. Groh, was sent to Africa. In recent years he has served on the Mission Board of the ALC.