Amazing Grace Lutheran Church (Anchorage, Alaska)

Pastor Alan Solmonson arrived the summer of 1974 to begin a new American Lutheran Church congregation in the Anchorage hillside area. After knocking on a great number of doors, he held the first service on October 6, 1974 at Kiel’s Mortuary. Shortly thereafter, services were moved to Huffman Elementary School and the congregation was officially organized as Amazing Grace on Sunday November 24, 1974.

Groundbreaking for the present building was held in July of 1975. Bob Hawkinson, a congregation member, was the construction superintendent. Construction included a tremendous amount of volunteer labor. First services were held in the new building basement, with the congregation sitting on planks, Thanksgiving of 1975; the building was completed and dedicated April 25, 1976. The two “portables” Sunday School rooms were added in the fall of 1982.

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