History of St. Luke’s

For a comprehensive history of St Luke’s, check out Wikipedia

The first Anglican Prayer Book services held in the Pacific Northwest took place at Fort Vancouver in 1825. By 1857, Vancouver’s first Episcopal Church was established in a schoolhouse on East Fifth and West Reserve Streets. It was consecrated as St. Luke’s in 1860, moved to a new building in 1871, and by 1879, became the first self-supporting Episcopal Parish in the Washington and Oregon territories. Destroyed by fire in 1931, the church was rebuilt by 1942.

The information below is from “The History of St. Luke’s,” compiled by Lesla E. Scott (1992) and revised and updated by a former church historian, Patrick G. Lawless (2016)

St. Luke’s

Stained Glass

The stained-glass windows are not only beautiful, but they also carry a unique history. See and read about each panel and find out what each means, why they are important to Christians, and who helped acquire these lovely treasures.

St. Luke’s

1825 – 1850

The first Anglican Prayer Book services held in what is now Vancouver, WA, were conducted at Fort Vancouver by Chief Factor John McLoughlin, Chief Trader James Douglas, and by lay readers in 1825.

The Reverend Herbert Beaver, the Anglican Communion’s first clergyman in the Pacific Northwest, served as Chaplain to the Hudson’s Bay Company at Fort Vancouver from 1836-1838.
The first Protestant Episcopal clergyman in the territory, the Reverend St. Michael Fackler, began a brief period of duty as Post Chaplain of Vancouver Barracks on May 28, 1850.

St. Luke’s

1853 – 1860

Reverend John D. McCarty, D.D. served as Post Chaplain of the Fourth United States Infantry stationed at Fort Vancouver beginning January, 1853. By 1857, worship in Vancouver’s first Episcopal Church was conducted by Dr. McCarty in a schoolhouse located on the south side of East Fifth and West Reserve Streets.

St. Luke’s first church was consecrated by the Right Rev. Thomas Fielding Scott, First Episcopal Bishop of the Washington and Oregon Territories, on Whitsunday, May 27, 1860. The parish was incorporated in 1868 and a parish day school was opened the following year.

St. Luke’s

1879 – 1931

In 1879, St. Luke’s became the first self-supporting Episcopal Parish in the Washington and Oregon Territories. The first convocation of the Missionary District of Washington was held at St. Luke’s on August 24,1881.

At its conclusion, the first Episcopal Ordination took place when E. F. Miles, M.D., was made a Deacon by the Right Reverend John Adams Paddock, on August 28, 1881.

In 1931, fire destroyed the second St.Luke’s Church building, which was located at Eighth and “C” Streets.

St. Luke’s

1942 – 1956

The third St. Luke’s church building was erected at 426 East Fourth Plain Blvd. By 1942 a parish house had been completed. In 1956 an educational wing was added. This drawing was made is 1956.

St. Luke’s

1959 – 2014

The fourth church to bear the name of the Beloved Physician Saint Luke was dedicated in Vancouver by the Right Reverend Stephen F. Baynes, Jr., on Advent Sunday, 1959. The Sanctuary changed from North-South, to East-West, with the Altar in the East, and the entrance in the West.

The original cornerstone from the 1871 is proudly displayed in the Narthex. The Narthex was expanded to the westside in 2014.

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