Original Church with Entrance on N Main Street

(Note: Boarded windows can be seen in photo of balcony.)

(Note: Large stained glass window in photo below is to left of front door.)

First United Methodist Church
Ashland, Oregon

"Ashland is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, near Interstate 5 and the California border, and located in the south end of the Rogue Valley... It officially became a town with the name Ashland Mills in 1855. The 2007 estimate (population) is 21,630 residents. It is the home of Southern Oregon University and the internationally renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival." (See Link 1.)

The First United Methodist Church sits at 174 North Main Street on the corner with North Laurel.  The first church at this site dated back to 1864. The present church was built in 1904 with the original entrance on North Main Street. 
The church sanctuary with its large stained glass window adjacent to the old entrance and facing North Main Street and its rear banistered balcony remains. 

                                 Stained Glass Window facing North Main Street

Rear Balcony

"The organ pipes of the Reuter organ sit behind the front altar.  The organ dates back to 1929.  A polished brass "Fanfare Trumpet" has been added to the pipes by Hochhalter Inc.  In 1989 they also added 13 brass facade pipes and made tonal changes.  More recently additional modifications have been made. (See Link 3.)

Altar and Organ Pipes in Sanctuary

About 3 years ago a new wing with a sanctuary entrance, foyer, office, and classrooms was built on the wall opposite this original entrance and joining to Wesley Hall, opposite this entrance.  The doors to the sanctuary are now on the side wall of the new foyer and opposite the original front door.

New Entrance off of North Laurel

Across the courtyard from the new entrance to the church is Wesley Hall, built about 20 years ago, with the cross and flame symbol of the United Methodist Church on its exterior wall facing North Laurel.  The Cross and Flame symbol has bee the official symbol of the United Methodist Church since 1986. (See Link 2.)  Wesley Hall is used not only by the church  but also for community events.

  Wesley Hall

Thank You: To church office staff for the dates of the buildings.

Photos: Taken in Ashland, Oregon in February 2011 by SW.

Link 1:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashland,_Oregon

Link 2:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_and_flame

Link 3:http://www.hochhalter.com/page36.html

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Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen (SW.)

St. Francis De Sales Cathedral Parish
Baker City, Oregon

"Baker City is a city in and the county seat of Baker County, Oregon, United States.^[4] This city was named after its county.^{[citation needed]} The population was 9,860 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 10,140 in 2008.  ...by 1900 it was the largest city between Salt Lake City and Portland..." (See Link 3.) ^5]

"St, Francis de Sales Cathedral is located on the corner of First and Church Streets.  Pope Leo SIII established the Catholic Diocese of Baker on June 19, 1903.  It included all of Oregon east of the Cascade Mountain range.  Before this time the region had been a part of the Archdiocese of Oregon City (later Portland).  The Pope likewise named Father Charles J. O'Reilly of Portland to be the first Bishop of Baker.  Almost from the beginning, the new Bishop took steps to inaugural a fund for the building of a new Cathedral.  On Sunday, may 14, 1905, Mass was celebrated for the last time in the old Mission Church of St. Fancis de Sales.  The old church was removed from the site on May 20 1905 and ground broken for the new Cathedral on May 24, 1905.  The foundation stone was laid down in 1906. (2235 First Street.)

Sanctuary of St. Francis De Sales Cathedral 2011

                                                               Baptismal Font

"The architect, M. ". White of Baker described the new Cathedral: "The style of the Cathedral is pure Gothic.  The building proper is 144 feet from front steps to rear of balustrade wall.  The front, including steps, towers, etc. is 68 feet wide and the nave is 48 feet.  Two imposing towers rise superbly above the structure to a height of 112 feet from the ground.  The entire building was built of Pleasant Valley local stone, known also as volcanic tuff.  The Cathedral proper will be 44 feet high from floor to apex of Gothic ceiling" ....Since equipment was limited at that time, a horse was positioned underneath the spires and kept going around and round, while the stones were lifted up higher through a pulley system.

                                                               Balcony pipe organ

"The original plans called for the church to extend to the curb, but because of lack of funds, the length of the Cathedral was shortened.  The official dedication of the Cathedral was held on April 9, 1908 with many  prelates and priests and parishioners in attendance...."On Sunday evening, Jan. 14, 1912 ,the new pipe organ in the Cathedral was solemnly bless. During August and September 1920, the wooden steps were replaced with present concrete one... 

                                    Appellations from the Litany of Loreto, 1958

"8 new stained glass windows were installed by the middle of May 1923 crafted by the Povey Bros. of Portland.  The larger ones cost $1000 each and the smaller ones $500.  The first major renovation was undertaken in 1944..., a second renovation of the Cathedral began on June 26, 1958.  The 2 newer stained glass windows in the sanctuary of the Church were designed and built by the Rambusch Decorating Co. of New York and Cost $8,100 each, and were blessed by Bishop Leipzig on June 14, 1959.  The new smaller Stained glass windows under the choir loft were blessed...on April 10, 1965.

                                      Appellations from the Litany to the Sacred
                                                            Heart of Jesus, 1958   
                                                   
"In 1975...Lee Kelly, a noted Oregon metal sculptor (was commissioned) to design new Cathedral doors." 

More renovations took place in 1980 and 1981 and again in 2007 in preparation for the Cathedral's centennial in 2008. "...relocating the tabernacle under a baldacchino, placed under the apse which was restored, as were the hidden stencils unveiled after 50 years."

 

                                                                Chapel Windows

 New day-Chapel at the Cathedral was opened officially in May 2005.

                                                                        (Link 2.)

Note:  "Spectacular Stained glass windows" Suzanne Wilson 2011.
Photos: Taken in 2011 by SW.
Reference: St. Francis De Sales Cathedral, A short history of the Cathedral
                parish... 1908-2008.  Information and quotes.
Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Saint_Francis_de_Sales
Link 2: http://www.saintfranciscathedral.com/
               (See this link for extensive photos of the cathedral.)
Link 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_City,_Oregon