Welcome to Port Angeles First UMC!
Solid Foundations, Constantly Changing
More than a building
Port Angeles First United Methodist Church is a welcoming and inclusive place, striving to provide a home for community, service, spiritual curiosity & formation.
We are proud to be a part of the Wesleyan tradition, centered on community resilience and holistic wellness of the mind, body, and spirit. We welcome you to visit us at the corner of 7th & Laurel streets in Port Angeles, WA!
Our History
1890
The Beginning
A small group of men and women founded the First Methodist Church of Port Angeles in 1890. The new congregation first met in a barn, and then in the Port Angeles Town Council Chambers.
The first building came in 1891, when a small frame church was constructed at the corner of First and Peabody Streets. A steeple, belfry and bell were added in 1901. The same bell still rings in the present church.
The congregation occupied this building for 40 years, at times joined by high school students from the nearby filled-to-capacity public school.
‘In the Style of a California Mission’
1930
The decision to relocate and construct a larger building was made in 1927 and two years later, the financing was fully pledged. However, by the time the church was consecrated in 1930, the Great Depression had settled in. Despite that, the congregation paid off the mortgage 1941, while continuing to give generously to needy community members.
For several months in 1941-42, soldiers lived in the social hall while awaiting construction of barracks and camps.
1955
Expansion
With more space needed, the congregation launched a Church Building Fund in 1955. By 1962, the new building was consecrated, providing classroom, meeting and office space, along with a parlor and courtyard.
The church also grew in ministry. Over the years, there were mission trips to Mexico and to flood and fire-stricken areas across Washington State. The weekly free Friendship Dinner was begun, the Clothes Closet free clothing boutique and a fruitful partnership with the Olympic Peninsula free clinic were born. As the times and society changed, FUMC changed, ever striving to meet the needs of its local and global communities.
Today
2024
As the world regroups and recovers from the three-year COVID-19 pandemic, FUMC continues to be a community of growth, change and action. The Wesley House, a new ministry and pastoral center, was purchased in 2020 and has been completely updated and refurbished to house pastors, visitors and small group studies. The Social Norms outreach program for youth and community was launched in 2022. As our new logo suggests, First United Methodist Church Port Angeles is rooted in tradition, but coloring outside the lines, always striving to be a place of hospitality, blessing and service.
The United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a worldwide connection of more than 12 million members in Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States. We are the person next door, the church on the other side of the country, and the worshiping community across the globe. Together, we share a legacy of living as disciples of Jesus Christ, sharing God’s love both in what we say and how we serve our neighbors. Learn more at the UMC website.
Port Angeles First UMC is part of the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church. Learn more about the GNW UMC on their website.