Note: The brief history of St. John's Episcopal Church in Colville, Washington, which follows, is gleaned from various sources but mostly from information written by Nora Cohrs, previous historian for St. John's. She does not date this account. Unless otherwise stipulated, the quotations are Nora's words. Certainly, additional details and dates would enable a more complete history to be written, which perhaps will happen. So, this is a "work in progress." Additional historical facts can be added as discovered.

Nora Cohrs writes "in 1917 when I was teaching in Spokane, I was privileged to attend an Episcopal Church with Fr. Shipway as pastor. However, I was not confirmed until coming to Colville and living my first year of married life. I was one of those confirmed in the new church in 1919 by Bishop Page." Where that church was located is not revealed in Nora's account.

The Catholics were probably the first to establish a church in Colville when, in the fall of 1838, two priests arrived from Canada. They responded to a call from the Colville area for the Word of Christ to be brought to the Whites and Native Americans who were living around Colville and Kettle Falls. "In 1890, the first protestant church was built by the Congregationalists. At this time, there were a few Episcopalians in the area who were meeting in each other's homes.” It appears that plans for the first structure were underway in the early 1900's. On February 1, 1909, the site of St. John's (not East Hawthorne) was dedicated by Anna Cattle as the place where the church structure would be built. "Under the direction of Bishop Wells and Bishop Page the work progressed slowly." On November 14, 1917, a resident priest, Reverend Carl Budlong, became the vicar for St. John's.

The church built in 1909 was thirty by sixty feet, built according to church regulations of rough boards. It was heated by a huge stove with around eight or ten joints of stovepipe to distribute heat throughout the building. It provided ample heat, but an over-abundance of smoke. "The altar was a huge wooden box over-turned and covered with a green cloth." A parishioner provided altar linens, and it is assumed the district provided the chalice. At a later time, a new altar, designed by Harold Whitehouse, was ordered through the district.

"After a period of time, sometime in 1920, Fr. Budlong was called to a wealthy church in the Mideast." The vicar who replaced him was Dean Severance who arrived on Good Friday (1920). "He was a real missionary. He walked or hitched rides all over the parish, as well to Northport, Marcus, and Kettle Falls, and other small towns where we had members." He remained until 1924 and Reverend Ernest Allman arrived in 1925 and stayed until 1929.

With the arrival of Deaconess Corbett (1933-1954), the Sunday school improved, St. Ann's Guild became more active, and St. Margaret's Guild was newly inspired. She was a true missionary, walking from house to house. She "was everything to be expected of a missionary-kind, considerate, well informed, dedicated to the Lord."

Archdeacon Alexander Coffin came to St. John's in 1929 and stayed until 1937. He was an Englishman and an excellent missionary. "He was a leader in the District of Spokane and did much to keep St. John's progressing on the right path. Leslie Kelley followed in 1937, staying until 1942, when Carl Markgraf c ame for one year. After Alexander Coffin's death, Cliff Covington, a WWII veteran became interested in the priesthood and began working in St. John's under Bishop Cross.

Cliff Covington immediately began plans for a new church building. (It is assumed that the location for this church was at the present site of the Presbyterian Church at the corner of Oak and Fifth Street in Colville.) Jim Johnson, a carpenter was hired to begin the work. The new plans included a basement, which would provide a temporary place of worship. During the construction of the basement and roof, evening services were held in the Congregational Church. After the basement was completed and the roof was in place, some in the church wanted to delay completion; however, "the majority wanted to finish the whole building." After much deliberating and searching for money, the decision was made to complete the building. Several men gave $100 and money was borrowed from the National Fund. With that and additional donations from church members, the $2400 needed to complete the church was raised. "In November 1949, Covington received a call to another area and William Greenfield came to take his place. The new building was dedicated on September 13, 1950."

John Livingston, who lived in Spokane where he served two churches on Sunday mornings, would come to St. John's for an evening service. Later

Fr. Lonergran (1956-61) was welcomed as a vicar. It is noted that Fr. Lonergran had five very active ("wild and mischievous") boys.

During Reverend Greenfield's tenure, the building was still not completed. "Cement was at a premium, but Jack Collins, a Roman Catholic, furnished enough for ... [the] basement."

In between Reverend Lonergran and Reverend Hitchcock were two vicars, Fred Ward (1961-1965) and Charles Wood (1965-1969). Reverend Ed Hitchcock held his first service at St. John's on June 3, 1969, and as he was a young priest attracted young people. After he left to serve a church in Cashmere in 1972, Father Gayle Hoard (1973-83), a retired soldier, began his tenure at St. John's. During his time at St. John's, he did many repairs to the vicarage and plans were underway for a new church building.

According to the Statesman-Examiner, May 7, 1981, "Groundbreaking services were celebrated last week by the congregation of the future St. John's Episcopal Church in Colville. The new church will locate at the east end of Hawthorne Street in the Rainer Heights Addition. Construction is scheduled to start in mid-May on the $140,000 church with completion due in September. The church will have two floors of 2300 square feet with the lower level graced by a full daylight basement. Architects of the building were Ohashi and Augier of Spokane. Both the Reverend Gayle Hoard of St. John's in Colville and the Rt. Reverend Leigh Wallace, Jr. [turned] the first shovel full of dirt. Also assisting during the ceremonies was the Reverend Canon Charles Wood, former Vicar of St. John's in Colville."

Then, according to the Statesman-Examiner, December 10, 1981, the service of Holy Eucharist was celebrated by the Rt. Reverend Leigh Wallace, Jr., Bishop of the Diocese of Spokane. He was assisted by the resident priest, the Reverend Gayle F. Hoard and visiting clergy from the Spokane Deanery [sic.]. The choir consisted of members of the Colville St. John's Episcopal Church, Church of the Immaculate Conception, The Assembly of God, and St. Paul's Lutheran Church, under the direction of Beverly O'Leary. Helena Fuller was the organist. In addition to the choir, Beverly O'Leary and Ronald Bacon sang duets accompanied by Sandy Palmer. St. John's Church School sang during the communion.

The building was designed by Ohashi and Augier and constructed by Otto Rainer. The new church furniture [pews, kneelers, pulpit, lectern, and altar rail] was made by John Jeanneret.

The new Hardanger Embroidery altar hangings and vestments were made by Nancy Wilson, Mary Andres, Jans Rader, Beverly O'Leary, and Marjorie Tate.

A reception hosted by St. Margaret's Guild followed the dedication in the Parish Hall.

From information provided by Harriett Thorpe, the Memorial Table (Stand) and Memorial Book were given by Barbara Ringrose. The window was given by The Ven. Alexander Coffin, Leslie C. Kelley, Mr. & Mrs. J. T. Johnson, Fred Cooper, Constance Cooper, Mrs. Alberta Larson, and Mrs. Jean Barker. The Processional Cross was a gift from the parents of Nora and Lester Cohrs. The Missal Stand was from The Reverend F. V. C. Ward. The Church Flag was given by Jeffrey James Fuller, while the American Flag was given by the parents of Neil and Barbara Ringrose. The Advent Wreath was a gift from Charlotte Cory.

After Reverend Hoard left, Reverend Keith F. Axberg came to St. John's in 1984 and remained until 1990. The vicars and/or visiting priests who followed Reverend Axberg are as follows:

Reverend James R. Porter, August 1990-August 1997;

Various visiting priests were present between 1997 and 2001; * most notable were Reverend John G. Hay, September 1997-June 1999; and Reverend Jack Dempsey, April 2001-September 2001; Reverend Thomas E. Murphy, September 2001-August 2003; and Reverend John Pratt, September 2003-present.

*Also during this time, Morning Prayer was conducted by

Pat Abbott and Harriett Thorp.

Through the dedication of St. John's parishioners and by the Grace

Of God, St. John's Episcopal Church in Colville, Washington, will continue to grow and to stand as a beacon of the beauty that is found within the Anglican Tradition. Thanks be to God!

-Respectfully submitted by Jane A. Scholl, April 2006.