In 1906, even before they had their own congregation, Presbyterians living in the University District purchased the southeast corner of Northeast 47th Street and 15th Avenue Northeast. Nine years later they dedicated their first substantial sanctuary on the site. The ever-growing congregation's new Christian Education Wing replaced the old church in 1957.

PAUL DORPAT

The new frame church resembled more a plumber's shop - which it eventually became - than a sanctuary. A little of its front facade can be seen here, far right. Although cheap and easy to build - it was put up in two weeks for $860 - from the start it was too small. Quickly the congregation built again, this time next door on the two lots at the southeast corner of 47th Street and 15th Avenue. A basement foundation was built to hold a large assembly hall for services. On Nov. 7, 1915, they dedicated the big brick Gothic Church shown here.

Five years after that, the original chapel was moved several blocks to the south end of University Way where, for many years, plumber Ed James was alert to neighborhood leaks. In the chapel's place the Presbyterians built an education wing.

On Oct. 12, 1952, the congregation moved to a new church next to the old one. In 1956 the old red brick church was razed and replaced with the education wing shown in the "Now" scene.

While it does not boast the fact, denomination statistics reveal that among all Presbyterian churches in the country, U-Pres has the largest number of people attending Sunday worship. To tend the flock, the church employs more than 120 people full time.

Vol. 1 and a new edition of Vol. 3 of Paul Dorpat's books, "Seattle Now & Then" are $19.95 each from Tartu Publications, P.O. Box 85208, Seattle, WA 98145.