Northminster Presbyterian Church (originally the First Presbyterian Church of Ballard) was organized on November 9, 1989, by the Rev. A. J. Canney as an outgrowth of a Sunday school held in a boarding house. The original church had eight members. Services were held in the mill boarding house until 1890, when the congregation moved into a frame structure at 17th Avenue N.W. and Market Street, financed by contributions from the congregation and help from the national church. The church was dedicated March 2, 1890, the records showing a membership of 28. The church served as a meeting hall and concert hall for many groups in the community and meeting the needs of the sizeable congregation.

On September 11, 1930, three women elders were elected to serve on the Session of Northminster Presbyterian Church, known then as Ballard Presbyterian Church. The three were the first women elders in the Presbytery. As reported in the Seattle Weekly News “It is believed that Ballard Presbyterian is the first church in which women have been elevated to the office of ruling elders. It is in keeping with the progressive spirit of the community.”

In 1939, the old church building was declared unstable. The Church purchased a building – the former Icelandic Liberal Church – at the corner of West 77th Street and 25th Avenue NW. The façade includes the Icelandic, or Old Norse, rune “Ópala”, more or less pronounced “OO’-tha-la.” Each rune can convey a single meaning or concept and the meaning of this rune is usually translated as “Inherited Land” or “Scared Place”. On November 13, 1939, farewell services were held in the old church, and the congregation voted to name the new church “Northminster”. The church was formally dedicated on Sunday, November 26th, and the 50th anniversary was observed.