Calvary Lutheran Church and Parsonage

Calvary Lutheran Church is a wooden house of worship styled with Gothic Revival features and Queen Anne decorative elements, showing characteristic late 1800s design work. The property includes the main building, a 1926 parsonage, and a separate study building from the 1950s.

The building was first built in 1891-1892 as the First Christian Church and converted to Norwegian Lutheran Church ownership in 1906. Major improvements between 1926-1927 updated the interior and led to the addition of the adjacent parsonage.

The Norwegian community that founded this church left a mark on the building through its simple yet elegant design, reflecting their values and traditions that visitors can still sense today.

The church sits in central Silverton and is easily reached on foot from Jersey Street in downtown. Visitors should be prepared for cool and damp conditions during winter months, so layered clothing works well for comfortable visits.

The building was transformed into the White Steeple Gallery and Tea Room by 1984, showing how a historic church became a space for art and community gathering. This second life preserved the structure while giving it fresh purpose for neighbors.