LIFESTYLES
WEEKEND, APRIL 15-16, 2017
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
The cornerstone of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer was placed in May 1875, making it the oldest house of worship in Pendleton currently in use.
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
and rich history elsewhere in Umatilla
County. According to a 1976 booklet
created by the West End Ministerial
Association, Rev. William Deweese of
Echo’s Methodist Episcopal Church
began holding religious gatherings in the
Hermiston home of Col. and Mrs. Horace
G. Newport. Beginning in August 1906,
they are believed to be the first religious
services held in the town.
As pioneers moved westward across
the United States, many brought with
them a strong faith in God.
It wasn’t long before people began
to assemble based on common beliefs.
Many early gatherings took place in
public buildings or people’s homes.
Referred to as “circuit riders,” traveling
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer
ministers would come into town and
The cornerstone of Pendleton’s Epis-
preach. As their numbers increased,
copal church was laid in
groups of believers set
out to construct church “It’s nice to see our May 1875. Nearly 120
years later, the building
buildings to worship in.
In Pendleton, a pair church lasted more remains. In addition,
it holds the distinction
of early churches were
than 100 years. as the oldest church
being built in the late
building in Pendleton
1800s within a stone’s
It ties us to the
still being used as a
throw of each other on
people that came place of worship by its
what is now Southeast
original congregation.
Second Street. An
before us.”
“It’s nice to see our
informal race was on
between the Episcopa- — Rev. Charlotte Wells, church lasted more than
100 years,” Wells said.
lians and the Methodists
current pastor of Episcopal
“It ties us to the people
to
complete
their
Church of the Redeemer
that came before us.”
building first.
Historian Mildred
Rev. Charlotte Wells,
the current pastor of Episcopal Church Searcy chronicled the history of the
of the Redeemer, said Episcopalian church during its centennial in a booklet
pioneers focused on the exterior portion called “The Little Brown Jug.” The
of the building, while just down the church was called by that name by the
road, the Methodists concentrated on the husbands of the pioneer women who
were instrumental in starting the church.
interior.
Wells said if it weren’t for the perse-
“We finished our building first,” Wells
said. “But they were able to have their verance of the nearly two dozen women,
the church might not have been orga-
service first.”
The Methodists also have a long nized. Rev. Lemuel Wells (not related
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
The First United Methodist Church circa 1922 in Hermiston.
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
The ambry in the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer is used to store
sacraments used for communion.
to the current pastor), a circuit riding
minister from Walla Walla, came into
town. Stopping by the saloons, he invited
men to Episcopal services to be held the
next day in the courthouse.
Women and children were in atten-
dance but the men were more interested
in drinking and gambling on a Sunday
horse race.
Wells said he’d hold a special service
on Monday for the men. However, as the
story goes, the men lost money and didn’t
want to show up to a church service with
empty pockets.
Charlotte Wells said people enjoy the
beauty of the church’s interior, which
features a marble-clad altar, intricate
wood carvings, a blue-paneled ceiling
over the altar, wood paneling and vivid
stained glass windows, including what
is believed to be an original Tiffany &
Co. A large window just off the main
altar commemorates the pioneer women
of the church. A highlight, Wells said, is
one depicting the “Ascension of Christ”
at the back of the chapel.
“Even if there’s no light on inside, it
still glows,” Wells said. “It’s stunning.”
Regular attendance is 60-70 people,
with High Holy Days reaching 100-120,
Wells said. The Episcopal church, she
said, is very tradition-minded. However,
since the human race isn’t the same as
it was 2,000 years ago, Wells said the
church changes with the times.
“We want to honor tradition, but we
don’t want to be so bound by tradition
that we don’t change,” she said.
First United Methodist Church
By the summer of 1907, shortly after
Hermiston was incorporated, the Meth-
odist church was formally organized in
the town.
“During Hermiston’s centennial,
it also was our centennial,” said Judi
Mason, a former church secretary. “It
was impressive to me that the church has
lasted that long.”
Referred to as the “Bungalow
Church,” the first building was
constructed in 1908. Located on North-
east Third Street, it was used from 1909-
1922, later becoming a parsonage. With
See CHURCHES/8C