St. Stephen's Episcopal Parish

History

St. Stephen's Chapel was the second Episcopal church established in the growing city of Portland. It was built on what is now the site of 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 for boys and girls (now Oregona Episcopal School) were opened adjacent to the church. Needing room to expand, St. Stephen's was moved in 1870.

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 of preaching the Gospel and gathering the wanderer and stranger into 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's Cathedral had 421 communicants and had established missions, outreach to the city's poor, support for Chinese immigrants and a mission for African-American Episcopalians.

Arson fire in 1924 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, incorporating the Lady Chapel and a new organ.

St. Stephen's has a rich history. It has been sharing Episcopal traditions, experiences and faith with diverse congregations of Portland's early urban settlers, builders, leaders, individuals, children, families, and those in need for nearly 150 years.