First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (Seattle, Wash.)

This congregation was established on September 25, 1918. It was the outgrowth of a Ladies’ Aid Society started in 1909 by people from Denny Park Lutheran Church, including Mrs. C. A. Anderson and Rev. Erick B. Slettedahl. He is regarded as the founding pastor as he signed the charter and accepted 106 charter members in 1918. Due to social and economic changes in America, the congregation remained fairly small until 1936 when Rev. A. O. Aasen became full-time pastor. The congregation experienced a surge of growth fro that time on. Another surge came in 1950, when the present German Gothic style architecture church plant was dedicated. This stunning building with its pillars, arches, ternazzo floors and rich, deeply colored stained glass windows set a tone for service and worship. In 1983 the church gave half of its 65th Anniversary fund to the North Pacific District in appreciation for the financial support given during the early years of 1909 to 1936.

From the guide to the First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, Seattle, Washington, Records, 1918-2012, (Pacific Lutheran University)