Beginnings
Bethany had its beginnings in the 1880s, a decade during which Seattle's population grew from 3,553 to 43,835. As the city expanded outward so did the need for churches and Sunday Schools.

Since then the congregation has built and occupied three buildings:

• at Harrison and Oak Streets, now the site of the International Fountain at Seattle Center (1888-1907)
• at First North and Roy Street, now Larry's Market (1907-1930)
• the present location at the top of Queen Anne Hill (since 1930)

Pastors
Including interims, 21 pastors and five associate pastors have served Bethany. Four of those pastors shepherded Bethany through a total of 71 of its 115 years:

• The Rev. William A. Major, 1893-1914
• The Rev Richard A. Van der Las, 1914-1927
• The Rev. Lawrence J. Mitchell, 1946-1957
• The Rev. Richard W. Denham, 1964-1990

The congregation officially incorporated January 31, 1888 as Second Presbyterian Church with 38 members. However, its roots go back to the Bell Town Mission Sabbath School organized in 1885 to serve "North Seattle" or Bell Town. It was the Sabbath School founders who petitioned Presbytery to become a church.

Second Church met at 4 p.m. Sundays at the Battery Street Methodist Church while their own building was under construction. Seattle pioneer David T. Denny donated the land; today it's the site of the International Fountain at Seattle Center. The church was dedicated July 29, 1888.

No Longer "Second"
The Rev. William A. Major led the congregation over the next twenty years of growth, as well as a name change. In 1903, no longer wanting to be known as "Second," members voted to become Bethany, "home of the friends of Jesus," winning out over the names Knox and Emanuel.

Bethany, with 300 members by 1907, purchased land just blocks away at First North and Roy Street to build a larger sanctuary. This second building housed the congregation for 23 years (decades later, in the 1970s and 1980s, the structure was to become known as "Sunday's Restaurant" before it was torn down to make way for the Larry's Market).

Bethany established its first mission, the Boren Avenue Bethel Sunday School near Lake Union.

The Rev. Richard A. Van der Las pastored Bethany through the World War I years and most of the 'Twenties. Services were held Sunday mornings and evenings. "Cottage Meetings" were held during the week.

On to the top
By 1919 membership was up to 433 with 280 in Sunday School, and the congregation began to set its sights higher -- to the top of Queen Anne Hill. As First Presbyterian's Dr. Mark Matthews is reported to have counseled, "You have been long enough at the bottom, go to the top."

Thanks to the Rev. Francis Horner for his research