St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

1432 SW 13th Avenue

(Side Door)

St. Stephen's Episcopal Parish
Portland, Oregon

"St. Stephen's Chapel was the second Episcopal church established in the growing city of Portland.  It was finance and built on what is ow the site of the City Hall by the Reverend Thomas Fielding Scott nine years after he was elected Bishop of the Missionary District of Oregon and Washington and arrived in the Oregon Country. 

"St. Stephen's opened its doors for services in 1863 with just a few families.  Separate Episcopal Schools (now the Oregon Episcopal School) were opened for boys and girls (St. Helen's Hall) adjacent to the church.  Needing room to expand, St. Stephen's was moved in 1870. 

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

(Link .)

"St. Stephen's grew and prospered.  A newly built chapel and school were consecrated by Bishop Benjamin Wistar Morris in June, 1882 with the mission to:
       "Aid in the culture of the spirit of the true reverence in both young and old....and carry on the blessed work preaching the Gospel and gathering the wander and stranger ito the fold of Christ."

"In 1890, St. Stephen's Chapel was moved again to its present location at the corner of 13th and Clay to allow growth for the school which now had 132 pupils.  By 1915, St. Stephen the Protomartyr Cathedral had 421 communicants and had established issions, outreach to the city's poor, suport of the city's Chinese  immigrants and a mission for African-American Episcopalians.

"Arson fire in 1024 destroyed the pro-cathedral and parish house.  Only the historic Lady Chapel and the Sacristy from St. Stephen's pioneer days were spared.  St. Stephen's was rebuilt in 1925 as a temporary structure that included installation of the Lady Chapel and a new organ.

"Over the years, various plans have been put forward to expand, improve or replace the "temporary" building supportive of St. Stephen's urban mission and ministry.

St Stephen the Protomartry Icon

"The icon is painted in the Eastern Christian manner as a young beardless man with a tonsure, wearing a deacon's vestments and holding a censer and incense container in the shape of a miniature church building reflecting his caretaking responsibilities....It was painted cy Australian artists, Olga Lukjanenko...and dedicated on ST. Stephen's Feast Day December 2009." (REF.)

"St. Stephen's was known as the "Bishop's Church" becoming the Pro-
Cathedral in 1906 and then the Cathedral until 1973.  St. Stephen's Cathedral standing was transferred, first  to St. John the Baptist Church, and affiliate of St. Stephen's, and in 1994 to Trinity Cathedral.

"St. Stephen's has a rich history of sacrament and service-actively sharing Episcopal tradition, experiences, faith and aid with our many diverse congregations of Portland's urban settlers, builders, leaders, children and families, individuals  and those in need for 150 years.

Altar with Sanctuary Cross

"Our historic sanctuary is graced with a dramatic wood center cross suspended from the vaulted ceiling.  The cross was carved in native bul myrtle by Oregon master sculptor LeRoy Setziol."  (REF.)

Madonna del Ghisallo Portland Bicycle Shrine

"Since November, 2009, the Portland Bicycle Shrine as been a place of reflection and meditation which honors the Madonna del Ghisallo, the patron saint of cyclists.  The shrine is a place to celebrate the joy of bicycling, a place to tray for the safety of everyone on the road, a memorial to those who have fallen in bicycle accidents, a place of quiet contemplation for all and a sanctuary of solace for those who are grieving lost friends and family.  If you are a rider, you may ask that you and your bike be blessed in the Madonna's name." (Reference.)

**********

Note:Suzanne and Alan Wilson attended Sunday worship St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Portland during their May 2017 trip there to meet the woman who was the maid of honor at their wedding-50 years ago.  While at the church service they received a blessing from the priest in honor of their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

Reference: St. Stephen's Episcopal Parish Directory, 2012.
Link: https://ststephenspdx.org/cathedral/

(See Blog Post 8/13/17 for  more on the Madonna del Ghisallo Portland Bicycle Shrine located in the sanctuary of the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church."