About

Past to Present: Our History

1914

Built as St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

1954

Remodeled and expanded adding more offices and changing bell tower roof style.

2000

St. Paul’s Congregation retires from building and merges with St. John’s Lutheran on Phinney Ridge. Compass Center uses building as mens homeless shelter.

2005

Compass Center moves into their new home downtown, Church of the Apostles (a young Lutheran/Episcopal church) purchases the building and moves in from across the street where they had operated the Living Room Tea House for about 2 years. COTA holds services in the Abbey on Sundays but the building is now known as a community center where all are welcome.

2006

The building is now curated by The Fremont Abbey Arts Center, an independent, non-religious, nonprofit 501c3 organization focused on arts education experiences for all ages.

2007, Jan

Fremont Abbey Arts Center received a $14,900 startup grant from the City of Seattle's Dept of Neighborhoods. Test programs, events are implemented & online & print community survey to asses the needs of Fremont & North Seattle.

2007, Oct

Renovations begin to improve building for community uses.

2008, March

Reopens offering more educational arts experiences, classes, workshops, music lessons, concerts, theatre, dance classes, and much more.

2010, May

Celebrates The Round's 5th Birthday - www.TheRound.org - 60 months in a row, mostly held in the Arts Center