Hope Lutheran Church (Enumclaw, Wash.)

Two men from Iowa, George Bruhn and Johan Johansen, were the founders of the Danish Lutheran church in this community in the early 1890s. It seemed as important to build a church in this new area as it was to build a home. The first record of ministry was a baptism in 1891. The congregation was organized by 24 men in 1894. Rev. Jens J. Mylund was the first full-time pastor, arriving in 1896. The year 1956 was one of decisions. The congregation sold its facilities to another church in April. With sincere belief in the future of Hope, members entered spiritedly into a new building program. Property was purchased on Garfield Street and groundbreaking was held on August 18, 1956, with the first service held in the new building the following March. Remodeling and enlarging of the church was begun in October of 1976 after a successful fundraising program. The new addition was dedicated on April 3, 1977. A 1979 renovation included redesign of the large altar window which frames Mt. Rainier.

From the guide to the Hope Lutheran Church, Enumclaw, Washington, Records, 1894-2012, (Pacific Lutheran University)