CALVARY'S HISTORY

Calvary Presbyterian Church began as a Sunday School in 1887 and met in the cabin of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stevenson. In 1889 the Sunday School moved into the Enumclaw Schoolhouse. On the evening of September 12, 1892, twenty-four men and women met at the schoolhouse with Dr. John Thompson of the Presbytery of Olympia to organize the church. The first elders were Mr. W. F. Bowler and Mr. Frank Marts; the first Deacons were

Mrs. Mary Stevenson, Mrs. A.L. Marks, and Mrs. Cora Horn. For some years the church had mission status, and the first missionary pastor was the Rev. E. M. Calvin. Throughout the last 134 years Calvary has had many different pastors leading worship, caring for the congregation, sharing outreach into the community, and supporting global mission.

The original church was built in 1894 on land donated by the Stevensons.

The present brick church building was erected in 1920 and the old church was moved to become the West Wing.

The Christian Education building was given to the church by the Weyerhaeuser Company in 1964 and was moved from its original location at the mill.

During 2023 the building was repurposed as the Calvary Community Center housing the community Plateau Outreach Ministries Food Bank on the lower level. Calvary expanded their local ministry in 2024 by remodeling the upper level into the Rainier Respite Center supporting caregivers of family members with Dementia.

Many people have worked countless hours in service through this branch of Christ’s church on the Enumclaw Plateau. We, its members and friends of today, are grateful to those who have passed on the torch to us. In looking forward, we seek how God is leading Calvary Presbyterian Church to further connections in our community and throughout the world.

Updated November 2025