Our Story

Queen Anne Baptist Church (QABC) traces its roots to the Swedish and German Baptists in Seattle. Our mother church, First Baptist Church—founded in 1869—also served as the “parent” church for several other congregations, including Scandinavian Baptist (1883), Mt. Zion Baptist (1890), Japanese Baptist (1891), and Chinese Baptist (1892).

Under the leadership of Rev. D.J. Pierce of First Baptist Church, a Mission Sunday School was established in North Seattle in 1886. Shortly after, 35 members of First Baptist "took out their letters" and formed North Seattle Baptist Church—making it older than Washington itself, which became the 42nd state in 1889. The newly formed congregation held services in a storefront on Harrison Street near Warren Avenue, with Rev. Thomas Baldwin serving as its first pastor.

During Rev. Baldwin's tenure, North Seattle Baptist purchased property on 3rd Ave and Cedar Street, where they built a church and remained until 1921. Meanwhile, Seattle’s population surged from 3,500 in 1880 to 42,800 in 1890, shifting the city's center from First Avenue and Pioneer Place to Second Ave and Pike Street—bringing it much closer to the church. In response to these significant changes, North Seattle Baptist adopted the name Temple Baptist Church.

In 1917, Central Baptist Church, a predominantly Swedish congregation, merged with Temple Baptist Church and changed its name to Central Baptist Church. As most members had moved away from the 3rd Avenue and Cedar Street location, the congregation decided to purchase property in Queen Anne. They sold the old property for $15,000 and adopted the name Queen Anne Baptist Church.

Under the leadership of Rev. B.P. Richardson, the church purchased its current property at 2011 1st Ave, N. for $4,000 in 1923. Construction on the first unit began in 1924 and was completed in May 1925. The first service was held on May 17, 1925, followed by dedication services in June. The building was valued at $40,000.  Although plans for the second half of the building were originally set to begin within 5 years, the Great Depression delayed those plans. In 1936, the second half of the building was constructed, including the Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, and Kitchen, and was completed by December 1936.

To accommodate the growing Sunday School, the church expanded in 1952 by purchasing adjacent property. The second addition, known as the Educational Unit, included the Pastor’s study, church offices, dining room, kitchen, and classrooms, add was dedicated on September 7, 1958.

In 1972, the church paid off its mortgage and celebrated with the “Burning of the Mortgage” event. In 1974, members of a declining church in suburban Shoreline, Shoreline Baptist Church, bequeathed $40,000 to create "The Shelter," a safe haven for runaway youth. After Shoreline Baptist Church was sold, The Shelter relocated to Queen Anne Baptist Church, where it operated until 1981 when it expanded to a larger facility on Beacon Hill.

As Queen Anne Baptist Church approaches its 100th anniversary on Queen Anne Hill, we celebrate a century of faith, community, and inclusion. On Saturday, May 17, 2025, we will mark this milestone with a vibrant community block party featuring free food, a live DJ, lawn games, family activities, and more.  This celebration is not just about honoring our past—it’s a testament to the thriving, diverse, and justice-driven church we are today.

Under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Victoria Carr-Ware, QABC’s first Black Senior Pastor and the first person of color to serve in this role, and Rev. Alex Booker, appointed in 2025 as Associate Pastor for Social Justice and Outreach, our church continues to embrace diversity, inclusion, and community engagement. QABC is one of the most intercultural, multiethnic, and intergenerational churches in Queen Anne, welcoming members from a broad spectrum of racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds., including a growing number of young families, students, and seminarians. We are committed to nurturing future leaders by integrating young adults and seminarians into ministry, decision-making, and leadership development.

QABC is proud to be an LGBTQIA+ welcoming and affirming church, with members of the queer community serving in leadership and worship. In 2022 we joined the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, further solidifying our commitment to radical inclusion. Our leadership reflects the diversity of our congregation and neighborhood, bringing together people of different racial, generational, and economic backgrounds. As we move forward, we remain steadfast in our mission to be a welcoming community, champion social justice, and equip future generations to lead with faith and love.