First Protestant Church Monument

In 1853, Reverend John F DeVore came to Steilacoom after Lafayette Balch convinced him to build his Protestant Church here instead of locating it in the Territorial Capital of Olympia.

In 1854, the Methodist-Episcopal Church opened to become the first Protestant Church north of the Columbia River (Washington Territories) that was built to serve white settlers.

After completion of the wood-framed building, the community of Steilacoom began fundraising for a steeple bell. A 480 pound bell was purchased for $355, arriving in Steilacoom in 1859.

By 1875, the church was abandoned. The church was demolished in 1894. At that time, a wooden structure was built to house the bell. The residents of Steilacoom had refused to sell the bell to other nearby churches.

In 1908, a coalition of groups built this stone monument, commemorating the site of the first Methodist Church in Washington. At the top of the memorial sits the original cast bell from 1859.

In 1853, Reverend John F DeVore came to Steilacoom after Lafayette Balch convinced him to build his Protestant Church here instead of locating it in the Territorial Capital of Olympia.

In 1854, the Methodist-Episcopal Church opened to become the first Protestant Church north of the Columbia River (Washington Territories) that was built to serve white settlers.

After completion of the wood-framed building, the community of Steilacoom began fundraising for a steeple bell. A 480 pound bell was purchased for $355, arriving in Steilacoom in 1859.

In 1908, a coalition of groups built this stone monument, commemorating the site of the first Methodist Church in Washington. At the top of the memorial sits the original cast bell from 1859.