St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Vancouver, Washington) facts for kids

St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Vancouver, Washington, is a special place with a long history. It's part of the Episcopal Church, which is a Christian church. People started worshipping here way back in the 1830s at Fort Vancouver. The first church building for St. Luke's was officially opened in 1860.

A Look Back: St. Luke's History

Early Days at Fort Vancouver

Long ago, in the 1830s, people who followed the Anglican faith held church services at Fort Vancouver. This fort was a big trading center for the Hudson's Bay Company. The leader of the fort, John McLoughlin, asked for a full-time minister. So, Reverend Beaver, an Anglican priest, arrived in 1836. However, Reverend Beaver didn't get along with everyone. He didn't like holding services in a schoolhouse or his living space. He left and went back to England in 1838.

Starting the Church Community

In 1849, after the Treaty of Oregon made Fort Vancouver part of the United States, American soldiers arrived. In 1853, Reverend John D. McCarty, who used to be a chaplain for the troops, helped start the first Episcopal Church in the Oregon Territory. He worked in Portland and also traveled across the Columbia River to serve at Fort Vancouver.

The first building used for St. Luke's was a schoolhouse near the fort. Reverend McCarty began regular services there in 1857. On May 27, 1860, the church was officially dedicated. It became the first Episcopal Church in what is now Washington state. Many people helped start the church, including John D. McCarty and others. St. Luke's officially became a church organization in 1868.

On March 2, 1873, a new church building was used for the first time. It had a very tall steeple, about 119 feet high. This steeple could be seen from all over Vancouver. People said it was one of the first things visitors saw when they came across the river. The church also had other buildings and a house for the minister. St. Luke's even started a school, teaching subjects like reading, art, and music to both girls and boys.

St. Luke's Church was an important meeting place. From 1881 to 1883, it hosted the yearly meeting for the Episcopal Church in the Washington Territory. In the early 1890s, St. Luke's also helped create the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, which happened in 1910.

The Twentieth Century and Beyond

On December 6, 1931, something sad happened. Just after the morning service, the church caught fire. The minister, Dr. Coleman Byram, his wife, and a young helper named James O'Banion were having a meal nearby. They smelled smoke and saw the church was burning. They quickly called the Fire Department. Dr. Byram and James rushed into the church to save what they could. With help from neighbors and firefighters, they saved important items like special robes, brass objects, and the bishop's chair. The fire was so big that it sent sparks all over the neighborhood. The church building was completely destroyed, but the minister's house was saved.

St. Luke's also helped start other Episcopal churches in the area. For example, in 1951, St. Anne's Mission in Camas-Washougal had its first service. St. Luke's leaders helped organize and provide for this new church. They even shared the cost of the minister and bought land for a new building.

Later, in 1957, St. Luke's bought land for another new church called The Church of the Good Shepherd Mission. This land was bought because Vancouver was expected to grow eastward. The Church of the Good Shepherd became its own mission in 1976. St. Luke's also helped start St. Hubert's of the Hills Mission in Yacolt in 1960. While a building was put up, this mission didn't last. The land was sold, and the money helped another mission, All Saints Episcopal Mission in Hazel Dell.

The idea for a church in Hazel Dell started in 1959. Land was bought in 1966. In 1978, the first service for this new church group was held in a local school.

In 1999, St. Luke's was recognized for its diverse community. Because of this, it became known as St. Luke's ~ San Lucas.

Two other important things happened at St. Luke's in the 1900s. First, the music program grew a lot. Music had always been a part of services, but it became even more special when Stella Baird arrived in 1925. She was a talented musician and teacher. Mrs. Baird became the organist and choir director and stayed for 28 years. She built an adult choir and two youth choirs. These choirs were very popular in the community. Even famous people like General George Marshall joined in. In 1942, a combined choir had over 72 members!

Another popular event was the St. Luke's Antique Show and Sale, which started in 1948. The mayor opened the first show using an old key from the Hudson's Bay Company. Ladies dressed in old costumes, and special displays were set up. Over 1,000 people attended, many from outside the area. The Antique Show became a tradition in Vancouver. It raised money for many good causes, like a camp at Spirit Lake and improvements for the church.

Important People from St. Luke's Early Years

Many important people were part of St. Luke's Church in its early days. Here are a few:

• John D. McCarty – He was a missionary priest and the first minister of St. Luke's.
• Albert S. Nicholson – He was an educator and the second minister of St. Luke's.
• Joseph M. Fletcher – He was a lawyer, a leader in the church, and even the Mayor of Vancouver.
• Louis Sohns – He was also a Mayor of Vancouver, a businessman, and a banker.
• George Marshall – A very famous general in the U.S. Army. He later became Secretary of Defense and won the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Oliver O. Howard – A major general in the U.S. Army, who also helped start a university.
• Joseph K. Barnes – A surgeon who became the top doctor for the U.S. Army.
• Benjamin Alvord (mathematician) – A general in the U.S. Army who was also a mathematician and botanist.

Church Buildings, Art, and Music

The Church Buildings

St. Luke's has had several homes over the years. The current church building is actually the fourth one! The first church was a schoolhouse that was changed into a church in 1857. It was located near Fort Vancouver. Even though it was small, it was designed to welcome important military and community leaders.

A new church was built in 1873 in the middle of Vancouver. It was made of cedar wood and had a tall, vaulted ceiling. The steeple was over 119 feet high and was a famous landmark. A large bell was added in 1882. Beautiful stained glass windows were also put in as memorials. This is the building that was destroyed by the big fire in 1931. The fire ruined the altar, bell, and all the stained glass.

A third church building was built in 1932. It was made more of brick than wood and was located north of downtown. This new church had a strong tower and a unique style. A parish house was added in 1942, and an educational wing was built in 1956.

The fourth and current church building was a change to the third one. Parts of the old church, like the bell tower and a small chapel, were kept. The main worship area was made bigger and changed to face east-west. This church was dedicated in 1959. It has very high, vaulted ceilings. A part of the older church building was kept and turned into a special memorial chapel.

Amazing Art: Stained Glass Windows

The current church has 27 beautiful stained glass windows. Eight of these windows were added in the early 1940s to the third church building. They were later moved into a side chapel in the current church. We don't know who made them, but they are very detailed and show scenes from the Life of Jesus Christ. They also have many religious symbols.

The main worship area has a large stained glass window of St. Luke. This window was made by Gabriel Loire, a famous glass artist from France, and put in place in 1967. Gabriel Loire created art for over 800 places around the world! St. Luke's has 16 windows made by Gabriel Loire and 7 by his son, Jacques Loire. These windows often use deep blue colors, which the artist felt showed peace. The way the glass is cut makes the light inside the church look amazing, especially when you are surrounded by these colorful windows.

Wonderful Music

Music has always been a joyful and important part of St. Luke's. This is helped by the good sound quality of the main worship area and its musical instruments. In the choir area, there is a pipe organ built in 1890. This organ is very special and rare because it's so old and uses a unique mechanical system to control its pipes. It's one of the best examples of old American organs in the Northwest!

The church also has a Sohmer & Co. grand piano. It was built in 1924 and bought in 1989 to remember Dr. James O'Banion. The O'Banion family was part of St. Luke's for many years. Jim, who was 13 at the time, was there when the fire broke out in the second church building in 1931.

There's also a Mason and Hamlin Melodeon, which is a type of reed organ. It was probably built in 1868 and was played in St. Luke's first building. It was given back to the church in 1992.

Finally, St. Luke's has a set of 37 Petit & Fritsen handbells from the Netherlands. These Dutch bells have a richer, more complex sound than most handbells in America. They sound more like a large set of bells in a tower. Generous donations allowed St. Luke's to buy them. They were blessed in 2006 and are often played by the Handbell Choir during services.