Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (Tacoma, Wash.)

Gloria Dei was established on May 5, 1959 as a result of the merger of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, then located at 17th and J. Streets, and Messiah Lutheran, 1209 South I. In 1964 Olivet Lutheran Church, South 15th and K, formerly of the Lutheran Free Church, merged with Gloria Dei. On May 13, 1962 ground was broken for a new church on South 19th, and it was completed in January of 1963. Up until that time services had been held in the old Messiah church. Messiah Lutheran was established in 1885, and on July 10, 1887 the first pastor was installed. A site was purchased, and the new church was dedicated on February 8, 1891. After the merger, the church, parsonage, and other buildings were sold to another church. Our Savior’s was organized May 1, 1891 as a congregation of the Norwegian Synod. It was founded under the leadership of B. Harstad, who was the founder of Pacific Lutheran University. The first church was erected at 24th and Ainsworth and was moved to the site at South 17th and J in 1904. In 1930 Our Savior’s and St. John’s merged forming Luther Memorial, but most of the congregation decided to remain as Our Savior’s. Olivet Lutheran, a congregation of the Lutheran Free Church, was established in December 1902. A church was built on the corner of 15th and K. in 1904. This congregation merged with Gloria Dei on January 1, 1964 when the Lutheran Free Church joined the ALC.

From the guide to the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Tacoma, Washington, Records, 1885-2012, (Pacific Lutheran University)