A nearly 100-year-old church in Ketchikan was recently chosen to be part of a national historic preservation program.
In addition to a $175,000 grant, leaders of the First Lutheran Church are also receiving training from the National Fund for Sacred Places, to help them fundraise and organize the large-scale repair work. The church was one of 24 “historic and architecturally significant” faith communities chosen from more than 400 applicants. It’s only the second building in Alaska to receive the award, with the other being Unalaska’s Holy Ascension of Our Lord Russian Orthodox Cathedral in 2017.
First Lutheran is one of the more prominent buildings in Ketchikan. Overlooking the main stretch of road where Tongass Avenue weaves into Water Street, its tall steeple juts high into the sky. Denise Wolvin, who wrote the grant for the award, explained that the building provided a landmark for mariners, like the Norwegian fishermen who founded the congregation in the 1920s.
“Back in the day, fishermen would see the church as they’re coming in as just like, ‘Yes, I’m home,’” Wolvin said. “‘I’m happy to be back at home.’”
Wolvin said the eye-catching architecture now serves as an inviting signal to curious community members and visitors.
“It’s a gothic design. So it’s like big steeple, but you come in and it’s not a materialistic church. You’re very subdued, and it’s a more relaxed nature,” Wolvin said. “We’re a beacon from the outside, and then come in and we’re just like your cozy home with the understated Norwegian history.”
Built in 1930, the building’s historic character has earned it a spot on a national registry of historic places. But Jennifer Sandy, who’s part of the team that gave out the Sacred Places grants, said the church’s community impact was also a big part of the selection process.
“For First Lutheran in Ketchikan, we were impressed with the service that it provides to the community,” Sandy said. “The Chamber Orchestra, which practices and performs there. They do a men’s breakfast that’s open to people of all faiths. They support nonprofit organizations that are assisting people with housing and living essentials and provide meeting space for a variety of groups in the community.”
Sandy said their grant to First Lutheran will go towards exterior repairs to make sure the building is watertight, an important quality in rainy Ketchikan. But the church is still raising money to fund other needed interior repairs.
Church leaders also encourage the community to reach out about using space in their adjacent building, which has meeting rooms as well as a gym.
