The exterior of Crown Hill Church at the corner of NW 80th and Mary Avenue in Seattle's Crown Hill neighborhood, with a car waiting at a stop sign and another passing in the foreground.

Our Story

How two churches became one

A history of love, generosity, and care for the neighborhood is the foundation
Crown Hill Church is built on

In 1951, United EFC was created from the merger of two local churches, First EFC (1892) and Salem EFC (1912).

United EFC said “Let’s love our neighbors” and they built the church to be a place to serve the neighborhood.

An icon of a church to symbolize the merger of two churches back in 1951.

In 2004, Sanctuary CRC was established in the Greenwood neighborhood

Sanctuary CRC said, “Let’s love our neighbors” and they served the Greenwood neighborhood for 16 years through the Green Bean Coffeehouse.

An icon of a church to symbolize the founding of Sanctuary Church in 2004.

Sanctuary CRC inherited PATH preschool, a school without a place to call home.

United EFC said, “Here, use our basement.”

An icon of a crayon to represent PATH Preschool, the preschool that now is run by Crown Hill Church.

United EFC saw underutilized space in their building.

They said to Sanctuary CRC, “Here, why doesn’t your staff use our office space.”

An icon of an open box, symbolizing the original move that Sanctuary Church made when sharing the church office space with United EFC.

COVID disrupts the way the world gathers together.

After COVID, Sanctuary CRC said, “Mind if we worship here on Sundays?”

An icon of a medical bag is symbolizing the way that COVID impacted the world and the way we worship together.

In the fall of 2022, a deeper relationship formed.

Together, United EFC and Sanctuary CRC said, “Why don’t we worship God, share meals, & love this neighborhood together.”

A symbol of a church to indicate the combined worship of two churches, Sanctuary CRC and United EFC.

A commitment to the shared vision to love Jesus & our neighbors.

In the fall of 2025, United EFC and Sanctuary CRC said, "Why don't we call ourselves Crown Hill Church?" And so they did.

In 2025, the two churches agreed to merge together to form Crown Hill Church in Seattle's Crown Hill neighborhood.

The church windows are seen in a reflection off of the church grand piano

With roots in the Reformed tradition and the Evangelical Free church

As we establish this new church, we are grateful for our heritage in the Christian Reformed Church and Evangelical Free Church traditions. We would not exist without the gifts and investments of these denominations. As we are currently discerning a new “home” for our church, we are aware and grateful for the ways the theology, mission, tradition and ethos of these denominations has shaped us as individuals and as a community.

Four men read text together as one points to a passage during an Ideas Workshop training session in Uganda, a ministry partnership supported by Crown Hill Church.

Extending Christ’s love beyond our walls

We partner with missionaries and organizations doing faithful work in Seattle and around the world. Their calling to share the gospel and serve the vulnerable reflects the same heart that drives us as a church.

Local & international organizations we support

Join us on this journey

Ready to become part of our community? We'd love to know you and walk alongside you.