St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church (Zigzag, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church
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Church photographed in 1978 after being relocated from the Zigzag site
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 Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Zizag, Oregon |
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| Area | 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) |
| Built | 1937 |
| Architect | John Steiner |
| Architectural style | Rustic |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002045 |
| Added to NRHP | December 21, 1979 |
The St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, also known as the Church of St. John in the Woods, is a special old church building. It is located near Welches, Oregon, but it was first built near Zigzag, Oregon. This church was originally a small mission church. It served Catholic families in the area.
The historic church was built in 1937. It has a unique "Oregon Rustic" style. This means it looks like a log cabin. The church was officially opened on September 6, 1937. In 1971, a big highway was made wider. Because of this, the church building had to be moved. A new church was then built in its place. Some parts from the old 1937 church, like its stained glass windows and log pews, were saved. They were put into the new church, which opened in 1972.
The original log-cabin church building is very important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This list recognizes places that are important to American history.
Contents
The Story of St. John the Evangelist Church
The very first St. John the Evangelist Church was built in 1926 in Zigzag. It was blessed on July 18, 1926. This church was a place for about 40 Catholic families. It also welcomed visitors in the Welches and Zigzag areas. Sadly, the first church building collapsed under heavy snow. This happened in 1937.
Rebuilding in a Rustic Style
After the collapse, a new log-cabin-style church was built in 1937. Henry Steiner and his sons, John, Fred, and Al, helped build it. Church leaders blessed this new building on September 6, 1937. The church had a special "rustic" look. It featured diamond-shaped windows and beautiful stained glass. It also had unique double doors and strong wooden beams. This church building was used until 1971.
Moving the Church Building
In 1971, Highway 26 was made wider. This road work took up about 16 square feet of the church's land. Because of rules about land use, the log-cabin church building had to be moved. It was then used by a local theater group for plays.
After the log-cabin church was moved, construction started on a new church. This new building was at the original site. It began in 1972. The beautiful stained glass windows and log pews from the old church were saved. They were carefully moved and put into the new church. This third version of the church was blessed by church leaders on June 9, 1972.
A Place in History
On December 21, 1979, the original log-cabin church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site. The building is currently stored on a property separate from the church that stands today in Welches.
See also
External links
- St. John Catholic Church – official site of the present-day church
