Sunday, August 23, 2015

Church of St. Michael the Archangel

1701 SW Fourth Avenue

IMG_2194 Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Church of St. Michael the Archangel on February 15, 2010

If you hear church bells near the Keller Auditorium, it may be from the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, a couple blocks south on 4th Avenue.

IMG_2208 Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Church of St. Michael the Archangel on February 15, 2010

The first Catholic church building in Portland was dedicated on February 22, 1852 by Archbishop Francis N. Blanchet. It was located near N.W. Fifth and Couch on land purchased from Captain John H. Couch. In 1854, the building was moved to land purchased from Benjamin Stark at S.W. Third & Stark. By around 1880, the building had moved to the current property, sitting where the parking lot is now.

IMG_2216 Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Church of St. Michael the Archangel on February 15, 2010

When the need for a new church building was recognized in July 1901, the entire cost of the building was raised within eight months. The cornerstone for the church was placed on November 24, 1901, and the church was dedicated on June 26, 1902.

IMG_2215 Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Church of St. Michael the Archangel on February 15, 2010

The Church of St. Michael the Archangel was designated an historic Portland landmark by the Portland City Council on December 29, 1971.

IMG_2212 Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Portland, Oregon on February 15, 2010
Church of St. Michael the Archangel on February 15, 2010

This concludes the original content of my PORTLAND PLACES: Keller Auditorium page. To see additional blog entries about Portland, click on the Portland label.

No comments:

Post a Comment