God's Glory Growing... Yesterday, Today, Forever

A Bit of History

In the far Oregon territory in the year 1844, the first building was erected in Portland, where A.L. Lovejoy and Francis Pettygrove had just laid out the first 16 blocks of the city.  In 1850, Hezekiah Johnson, a Baptist missionary, learned that four excellent lots were available to build a church.  David Lenox, Ezra Fisher, and Johnson made the long journey from Oregon City to Portland to bargain for the land.  Legend says the property changed hands for the trade of Johnson’s buckskin pony.  History says the price was one dollar, but whatever the consideration, the happy trio went home that evening with the deed to be held against the day when there would be a First Baptist Church in Portland.

On May 6, 1855, a group met in the County Courtroom on the second floor of Robinson’s Building on the corner of Front and Salmon Streets and the First Baptist Church, Oregon Territory was formed and publicly recognized as a church.  On the second Sunday of the month, the Sunday School was formed, and on July 4, 1855 marched in the Independence Day Parade behind a blue silk banner.

In January 1862, the first assembly was held in the basement of the new church.  There followed several years of upheaval, but in 1870 the church building was completed.  The expenditure was $12,500.

In the late 1880’s, members recognized a future need for a larger building that was farther away from the then-bustling business area of downtown Portland.  A committee began working and Mr. N.J. Blagen was asked to do the construction for the estimated cost of $86,000.  Dedication of the new church was held on July 8, 1894.

With the coming of refugee families in 1975, the Cambodian Department was begun.  In 1988, the growing Spanish-speaking population of our area led to the beginning of our Hispanic Department.

Through all 150 years of our history, Jesus Christ has been proclaimed through children’s ministries, youth ministries, feeding programs, support of missions around the world, international-student ministries, street youth programs, women’s and men’s organizations, senior adult ministries, affiliation with camp, and other avenues of service.

Praise God for the vision of our forefathers and their sacrifices.  May we follow their examples and leave such a legacy to those who follow us.

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