Seattle First Baptist Church was organized in 1869 by 11 men and women on a lot donated by Elizabeth (Jones) Holgate (1796-1880), a widow who had lived in Seattle since at least 1856. The wooden church was built on the east side of Fourth Avenue, between Cherry Street and James Street. The building was abandoned after 1908 when regrading of Fourth Avenue left the building inaccessible. The municipal building, housing Seattle City Hall now stands in this location. In 1912 a new First Baptist Church building was opened at Harvard Avenue and Seneca Street which is still in use.

This image shows the first church building on Fourth Avenue, on a lot originally worth $150. The home to the left of the church belonged to Jesse W. (1836-1895) and Cassandra E. George, and the home on the right belonged to Edward (1807-1884) and Abigail Hanford.

Typed note attached to photo: Dec. 28, 1869 11 men and women organized Seattle First Baptist Church and then built this church on the east side of Fourth Ave., between Cherry and James Sts., where the Municipal Bldg. now stands. The building lot, worth $150 in those days, was donated by Mrs. Elizabeth Holgate. The city's population stood at about 1,100. Edward Hanford home on right, Jesse George home on left. Photo ca 1885.

Caption information source: Campanario, G. (2012, September 29). Reaching for the sky, long before the Needle - Seattle Sketcher. The Seattle Times, pp. B1
Caption information source: http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2012/09/first-hill-seattle-first-baptist-church-celebrates-100-years-of-service-in-seattle