Group fighting to save landmark Tacoma church from demolition readies formal appeal

TACOMA, Wash. — A group fighting to save Tacoma's Holy Rosary Catholic Church from demolition said it's working with an attorney to file a formal appeal with the Archdiocese of Seattle.

The Archdiocese of Seattle issued a decree over the weekend to close and raze the church building that it said needed nearly $18 million in structural repairs.

The group, Save Tacoma's Landmark Church, said at a Thursday community meeting that it had 10 days following that decree to submit the appeal and planned to do so next week.

"I don't envision a future without this beautiful, sacred building right here where it stands," said D.C. Grant, with Save Tacoma's Landmark Church. "If something like that happens, I will probably be inside trying to stop it from happening."

Dozens of people attended the community meeting that was held next to the landmark church built in the 1920s. It's no longer safe for Parishioners to be inside the church.

"Absolute shock," said Laura Lee Cederlund, who attended Thursday's meeting. "This is definitely worth saving."​​​​​​​

Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards also attended the meeting and said she fully supported efforts to save the church. KIRO 7 asked if the city would support those efforts financially.

"There are grants and other opportunities for us to explore," said Woodards. "So we're going to work with the church to explore every opportunity we have."​​​​​​​

Save Tacoma's Landmark Church said awareness and donations are key and said donations are growing.

"We've gone from under $1,000 a month, to a few thousand dollars a month in donations," said Grant. "Now we've hit the 10's of thousands of dollars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in pledges."

Grant said another community meeting is planned next Thursday at 6:30 p.m. but said a location hasn't yet been decided.

Cox Media Group