Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (Bellingham, Wash.)

The early history of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church is the story of two pioneer congregations. August 17, 1890 saw the preliminary meeting for the organization of the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Church of Fairhaven, Washington, with Rev. Ole Amundson in charge. Our Saviour’s Evangelical Lutheran Church saw its beginning on April 2, 1891 with the Rev. L. C. Foss, whose missionary field was the state of Washington and the Province of British Columbia. These two congregations merged in 1917 to become the present Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. There have been several buildings used by the Lutherans of South Bellingham. The Norwegian – Danish congregation built its first house of worship in 1891 on the hill above Nineteenth Street. In 1908 this building was moved to Mill Avenue and Nineteenth Street, where it served the congregation until the union in 1917. Our Saviour’s congregation began their work in the school house on McKenzie at Seventeenth Street. From 1894 to 1900 they worshipped in a converted store on Donovan Avenue. In 1900 a lot was procured and a church built, which served them until 1913 when a new church was built. The parsonage was built adjacent to the church in 1930. A parish unit was added to the church in 1950. In 1959 a building fund drive was begun, and on Easter Sunday, April 22, 1962 the new church was dedicated.