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Welcome to Pioneer United Methodist Church

Founded in 1846

We are located in the Heart of St Johns, across the street from James John Elementary School; next to the Multnomah County Library.

Sunday Worship 10:30 am

Please call 503-286-0312 for information about Church School

Our building is handicap accessible, with an elevator to 3 active levels.

Transportation is available; Please call 503-286-0312 ( leave message with directions)

Child care available for toddlers.

The Montessori House of St. Johns is sub leasing the first floor of our education wing. To learn about their school CLICK HERE

A Finnish Homeland education program is located in our building. For information call Merja Fellin at 360-546-1007.
To visit Finland please CLICK HERE

HOME----Meet Our Pastor---- Read Our History----Former Pastors

Meet Our Pastor

We have no Pastor at this time. We are in a transitional period, with visiting Pastors and Lay speakers.

Join us for a rewarding experience, into the "FUTURE".

HOME----Welcome to PUMC----Read Our History---- Former Pastors

Our History

Long before the admission of Oregon into the Union as a territory in 1849 and its admission as a state in 1859, a group of Christians gathered in the home of William Caples in 1846 to worship God. Circuit riders served this small congregation, in the city of St Johns.

Our first building was erected in 1852 at the corner of W. Richmond and E. Bradford on land donated by community founder James John. Lumber taken from an abandoned ship was used for the building. East Bradford is where the railroad tracks are, next to the waterfront.

Some of the founding leaders were, Solomon Richards, James Loomis, William Caples, Daniel Southmayd ( an ordained Methodist Episcopal Minister ), and John Waud. In 1853, the Rev. James Garish was appointed to the Milwaukie circuit which included Pioneer.

In 1887, C. Alderson was appointed as full time pastor at Pioneer, and by 1888 the congregation had outgrown the original building and a second one was erected on the same site.

In 1904 the congregation had grown to about 100. The need to expand resulted in moving the building up the hill to the corner of W. Levitt ave. and S. Syracuse st.. A parsonage was added in 1905. The new St Johns post office drive through now occupies that land.

The current location at E. Charleston and Leonard was selected in 1920 and the building was dedicated December 10, 1921. The communion rail and pulpit were recycled from the S.W. Taylor Street M.E. church, ancestor of First United Methodist Church, Portland. St Johns was annexed to Portland in 1915 and all street sign prefixes were changed to N. ( North ) in 1932.

In 1939, as a result of the union of the Methodist Episcopal and Methodist Episcopal South denominations, Pioneer Methodist Episcopal Church became Pioneer Methodist Church.

By 1946, at the celebration of our centennial anniversary, the church had 425 people enrolled in Sunday School classes and 388 people as members. The need for further expansion was clear. In 1962 our membership was 712, including preparatory members.

August 30, 1959 the Linnton Methodist Church and Pioneer Methodist Church merged, Transferring ownership of the Linnton building to Pioneer. Sunday school classes were offered at both locations for several years and eventually the Linnton Church became the Linnton Community Center. Today the center has a rich community outreach program.

Ground was broken for the office / education wing ( The Childrens Temple ) on July 8th, 1956, and the building was consecrated on Septmber 15, 1957. What a contrast to the little primitive building constructed with materials from an abandoned ship ! Today we have lovely stained glass windows, a pipe organ (1939), carpeted sanctuary and padded pews. The education wing houses 6 large class rooms, a choir room, a nursery and the church offices. The original building is a 4 floor structure with a large dining room ( Clark Hall ), a large youth activity room, 6 class rooms, fire side room, memorial room, kitchen and sanctuary. In 1980 an elevator was installed to serve the lower three levels of this structure. The padded pews will accomodate 300 people.

In 1968, as a result of the merger of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Bretheren Church, Pioneer Methodist Church became Pioneer United Methodist Church.

We have much to be thankful for. The church is more than a building, more than just the oldest Methodist church in Portland. Though the church has made history and has seen history, it stands today because of the sacrafice, prayers, gifts and support of the men and women who took the message of Christ seriously. It remains a place of learning and prayer, a place of communion and fellowship in this community. Yes, the church still stands and will continue to minister to the needs of all, regardless of race, sexual orientation, nationality or political affiliation.

The General Board of Global Ministries, of The United Methodist Church helped with the building of this Website in 2002

The Linnton community Center was sold to the Linnton Community in 2005.

We hope that you will come and join with this body of Christ so we can build together and continue to serve in the name of Christ.

The Lord bless and keep you.

1846-1853...Circuit Riders..........1853-1855...James Garish
1855-1856...G.C. Roe................1856-1857...J.W. Miller
1857-1859...J.H.B. Royal............1859-1860...C.O. Hosford
1860-1862...C.G. Belnap.............1862-1865...C.J. Hall
1865-1866...J.F. Devore.............1866-1869...N.A. Starr
1869-1871...W.J. Casper.............1871-1873...J.S. McCain
1873-1875...Joseph Hoberg...........1875-1877...E.W. Helburt
1877-1878...A. Laubach..............1878-1879...H.C. Jenkins
1879-1880...F.E. Eliott.............1880-1882...A.C. Fairchild
1882-1883...Nathan Doane............1883-1884...Ladru Royal
1884-1885...Thomas Brown............1885-1887...S.L. Lee
1887-1888...C. Alderson.............1889-1890...N.M. Skipworth
1890-1891...A.G. Child..............1891-1893...W.R. Struble
1893-1895...Frank T. Howell.........1895-1896...A.W. Bagley
1896-1900...H.N. Rounds.............1900-1903...C.E. Cline
1903-1905...C.H. Campbell...........1905-1908...F.L. Young
1908-1909...S.H. Dewart.............1909-1911...F.N. Sandifur
1911-1913...J.J. Patton.............1913-1916...W.E. Ingals
1916-1918...J.H. Irvine.............1919-1924...W.E. Kloster
1924-1929...J.W. Warrell............1929-1934...J.H. McDonald
1934-1938...S.D. Johnson............1938-1942...G.H. Newland
1942-1947...J. Ross Knotts..........1947-1955...Harvey DeVries
1955-1964...Oscar V. Luchs..........1964-1968...P. Malcolm Hammond
1968-1974...Ralph Lawrence..........1974-1977...James Coppedge
1977-1978...Bill Lineberry..........1978-1981...Emmett Shortreed
1981-1985...Perry Jackman...........1985-1986...John Page
1986-1995...Robert Newberg..........1995-2001...Allyn C. Rieke
2001-2003...Ezekiel Ette............2003-2011...Paul Darling
2011-2012...Marshall Wattman-Turner.2012........Mantu Joshi