SUQUAMISH — It was more than 150 years ago that Chief Seattle and Chief Jacob Wahalchu were intrigued by the Christian faith and embraced the religion by integrating it into the Suquamish Tribe. Chief Seattle was even baptized “Noah Sealth” because he enjoyed the biblical story of Noah and Chief Wahalchu held services in his home near Old Man House for five years.

Because of the two tribal leaders’ dedication to Roman Catholicism, St. Peter’s Church was created in 1854 and remains today the second oldest mission church in the Puget Sound.

While both chiefs and other founding members of the church are long gone, their descendants and other Catholics will gather this weekend to remember them and acknowledge the church’s 150th anniversary.

To help celebrate this occasion, Archbishop of Seattle Alexander J. Brunett of the Archdiocese of Seattle will be paying a visit to the community this weekend for Mass, a dedication and a salmon dinner.

The July 10 celebration will begin at 10 a.m. with the arrival of Archbishop Brunett via canoe from Old Man House State Park to the beach in downtown Suquamish.

At 10:30 a.m. Archbishop Brunett will hold a wreath dedication at Chief Seattle’s gravesite followed by a Mass service at the church. After the ceremonies, there will be a salmon dinner in downtown Suquamish.

Kathy Johnson, associate director of communications for the Archdiocese of Seattle said the Archbishop has had the event on his calendar for a while because of its importance.

“It’s the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the mission, which is an important milestone,” Johnson said. “St. Peter’s is the second oldest Catholic mission in Puget Sound, so it’s a pretty significant milestone.”

“I think the people in the tribe are honored to have him here,” said Suquamish Tribal Spokesperson Leonard Forsman about Archbishop Brunett. “A lot of history with the tribe is at the church.”

“My grandmother never missed a Sunday,” added Wayne George, the grandson of the legendary Suquamish elder Martha George.

Other historic parishioners of the church include Florence Hebert, “Old Julia” Jacobs and Mary Adams.

While the congregation developed in 1854, the first church wasn’t constructed until the early 1860s near the site of Old Man House.

The building was moved and renovated several times through the 1930s. In 1939, the church was rebuilt at its present location off South Street, where several of the original windows and pews are still intact.