Our History: Woodlawn Methodist Episcopal Church

      In 1890, early Portland area land developers, Borthwick and Beatty, platted the Woodlawn district.  At that time, they offered one lot to the first denomination to offer to build a church.  The Rev. G. W. Pierce, an organizer and builder of several churches, immediatly applied and received the lot on which the first Woodlawn Church was built.

     He gathered together a few scattered families living in the district and organixed a class.  The articles of incorporation were made out in the name of the "Board of Trustees of Woodlawn Methodist Episcopal Church of Woodlawn, County of Multnomah, Oregon."

     In 1891, the church building was started. The cornerstone was laid in April, 1891, with appropriate activities.  The building was finished, using mostly volunteer labor, and dedicated  in May of 1891 by presiding elder, Dr. M.C Wire.  The Rev.  Alfred Kummer  of Taylor Street Methodist Episcopal Church, preached the sermon.   Woodlawn, St. Johns, Sauvies Island, and four Columbia County churches, were made a 'circuit', with the Rev. W. H. Strubel serving as pastor.  Mr. John Sarington was the first Sunday School Superintendent.

     By the end of the first year, Woodlawn became an independent charge, with the Rev. E. S. Craven as pastor.  During his pastorate, in 1893, a parsonage was built.

     In 1921, various improvements, including enclosing the stairs and adding on the rooms at the south end of the building in 1921, were accomplished while the Rev. J. H. Irvine was pastor. 

     In October of 1937, while Robt. McIlvenna was pastor, the old parsonage was torn down and a new one built, furnished and dedicated on Oct. 20, 1937.  This was built primarily through the donated labor of men, women and youth of the community.

     In 1955, after many delays and one false start, the congregation succeeded in buying five lots for a new church building.  Four lots were on Dekum Street, between 13th and 15th Avenues.  Another lot faced Saratoga Street.  Ground breaking ceremonies for the new building were held February 26, 1956.  Bishop A. Raymond Grant turned the first spades of dirt.  District Superintendent Edward Terry, Pastor Herschel W. Hall, and William Radcliffe, Charge Lay Leader, also took part in the ceremony.  At a later date, two additional ajoining lots were purchased, with a residence on one of the lots.  The house was then sold, leaving the empty lot for future expansion space.

     As Woodlawn entered into a merger with Beech Street Church and began the construction of the new building, the congregation had a membership of 215, with an active Sunday School of 107 members.  The Women's Society of Christian Service numbered 72 and there were 28 members of the Methodist Men's group.  There were 25 members of the Methodist Youth Fellowship.

     For a list of pastors who have served Woodlawn Church, check out this page .