Photo COURTESY PUYALLUP TRIBAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH LOCATED AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE PUYALLUP TRIBAL CEMETERY HAS A LONG HISTORY WITH THE TRIBE, STARTING AS FAR BACK AS THE 1860S.
The history of the Presbyterian Church, located at the entrance at the Puyallup Tribal Cemetery, goes back to the 1860s. Their work began here because of General Grant’s Peace Policy that was implemented by General Milroy, Superintendent for the Washington territory who assigned the Presbyterians to the Puyallup Tribe.
Mr. Flett and his family, who were Pres-byterians, came in the mid 1860s and were active in converting the Native population to the Presbyterian faith. They were later joined in this effort by Reverend Sloan.
According to documents available, Reverend Mann was active in founding the Puyallup Indian Mission. Mr. Mann served until 1892. In 1880 a church was built with the assistance of Puyallup Indians. The original church was located at the bottom of the hill below where the present church now stands. According to various reports the church had to be moved because of flooding or because of the noise from the railroad. With the help of some the Puyallup people, the church was put on logs and rolled uphill.
Reverend Mann was followed by Reverend John M. Pamment in October of 1892. He served for ten years. In 1903 Reverend D.D. Allen served until his resignation in 1920. His wife continued his work after his death. In 1935 Ms. Idella Ferguson came from Neah Bay and she ministered to the patients in the Indian Hospital.
Reverend Walter Johnson came to work in the late 1930s and under his leadership a new church was built in 1953. The title to the Church property was returned to the Puyallup Tribe in the mid ‘70s by the Presbyterian Church. The Puyallup Tribe invited the church to continue to use the property. The church continues to operate on the property today under the leadership of Reverend Irvin Porter, and operates under the name Church of the Indian Fellowship.
