Congratulations and Thanks to the efforts of the children of the Religious Education program and member Stephen Betzen!

Our grounds have been officially certified as a Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary by the National Wildlife Federation and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Charter member, Harry Jones, prepared this map which illustrates our Church grounds and walking trails. Harry says, “I purposely didn't show individual trees as that was not my intent, and they would obscure some of the details I wanted to show. Eventually I'd like to get a naturalist to identify some of the major trees and plants so we could label them, like at an arboretum."

From a historical standpoint, Harry says that this parcel of land is part of a much larger plot that originally included the cemetery next door. The location of the church shown is that of the original Cockrell Hill Baptist. The church building was still standing when our church purchased the 4.89 acres, but it was being used as a horse barn. Before that people lived in it. We razed it because it had most of the useable lumber stripped out of it and was a fire hazard.

Harry goes on to explain that 1869 is the date on the cemetery so this land has been used in religious ways for about 135 years.

The view along one of our trails.

An example of new growth from old.