Urban Grace Church

Urban Grace Church, 2011

Urban Grace Church, formerly First Baptist Church, was built in a Gothic Revival style in 1924 by Heath, Gove and Bell (see Frederick Heath) in Tacoma, Washington. The building's 53 rooms include an auditorium with 1,250 seats, a 500 seat banquet hall with stage, a kitchen, nursery room, small chapel, choir rooms, and the pastor's study. It is believed to be the oldest continuously used location for Christian religious services in the city.[1] The congregation remains active.[1] The church was originally Baptist, but is now interdenominational, combining Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Lutheran practices.

The Rialto mural by the Fab-5 graffiti artist group

Urban Grace Church and the City of Tacoma sponsor a poet laureate program and a poetry series in Tacoma. The "Soul of the City Poetry Series" event has featured Poet Laureate of Tacoma, William Kupinse.[2] The church has also sponsored civil rights events.[3] The church partnered with Trinity Presbyterian Church to hold a trade craft sale in 2008.[4] The mural on the back of Tacoma's Rialto Theater was first proposed by the church in 2009, with design elements of "both street graffiti and Islamic mosaic pattern in a pleasingly aesthetic way that reflects the church's commitment to religious diversity." [5] Although both the graffiti aspects and the Islamic motif were controversial, the mural was completed in 2010.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 Urban Grace Church historic landmark decision Nov. 24 November 20, 2009 Tacoma Daily Index
  2. ↑ Tammy Robacker Poetry on the soul Tacoma's Poet Laureate performs at the Soul of the City Poetry Series Apr 24, 2008 Weekly Volcano
  3. ↑ Local civil rights leaders to be honored at Urban Grace January 15, 2009 Tacoma Weekly
  4. ↑ Matt Nagle Urban Grace holds first ever fair trade craft sale November 13, 2008 Tacoma Weekly
  5. ↑ Graffiti art mural looks right for the Rialto August 28, 2009 News Tribune, The (Tacoma, WA)
  6. ↑ Tim Appelo, Teachable Moment: Getting to Know the Rialto Mural, City Arts, 2010-10-01. Accessed online 2015-03-18.
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Coordinates: 47°15′18″N 122°26′32″W / 47.25500°N 122.44222°W / 47.25500; -122.44222

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