A Short History of The Parish of St. John The Baptist
  

1964 The parish was founded as St. Stephen’s Chapel, a new congregation affiliated with St. Stephen’s Cathedral in downtown Portland. The vicar was The Rev. Robert Greenfield, chaplain of St. Helen’s Hall, which later became Oregon Episcopal School.

1965 Plans were developed for a new chapel on the current site, previously a riding academy. Ground breaking began that fall, and the chapel was inaugurated in Holy Week 1967. Furnishings from the old school chapel included the stained glass east window, the sanctuary lamps, and the Lady Chapel altar.

1970 The centennial of St. Helen’s hall was celebrated in the new chapel. Presiding Bishop John Hines and members of the teaching order of St. John the Baptist were present for the Eucharist.

1972 The Flentrop organ was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Beebe.

1973 The Diocesan Convention voted to move the Cathedral from St. Stephen’s to the chapel on the
Oregon Episcopal School campus. The new Cathedral parish took the name of the teaching order of St. John the Baptist. The dedication of the Cathedral was presided over by Bishop James Carman, and Father Greenfield became Dean.

1974 The Rt. Rev. Matthew Bigliardi became the new Bishop. A choir master was hired and choir
formed.

1976 The original mortgage undertaken in 1964 to help build the chapel was fully paid; James Boston, a
postulant from the parish, was ordained deacon at Oxford, England

1978 Tuesday morning 9:30 Eucharist started; library established by Mary Nieman; icon of St. John the
Baptist acquired for the Lady Chapel and lamp nearby purchased in Israel by the Dean; Susan Jensen appointed organist.

1979 We sponsored a Cambodian refuge family with 6 children. Stations of the cross donated and
installed; daily evening prayer services at 5:45 p.m. started; junior choir formed for ages 8-12. Pat Hazelett succeeds Maureen Nielsen as parish secretary.

1980 Father Greenfield announced his resignation in order to enter the monastic life in the Society of St.
John the Evangelist in Cambridge, Mass. Dave Dougherty was senior warden, and Fr. Paul Barthelemy, the school chaplain, presided at most of the worship services and also provided pastoral care. The parish established the Greenfield Lecture Series in his honor; the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist has over 300 families.

1981 The parish completed a parish profile, submitted it to the Bishop, and selected The Rev. C. Roy
Coulter from the Bishop’s list of potential Deans. Father Coulter arrived in August and was officially installed in October. The north wall of stained glass was installed.

1982 Sally Shippen was ordained, the first woman ordained in the Diocese of Oregon, and was appointed
Curate of the Cathedral.

1983 Outreach programs donated over $5000 to charitable projects in the city and the world. Barbara
Jelen was appointed parish organist.

1984 The Rt. Rev. Robert Ladehoff became the new Bishop as Bishop Bigliardi retired. The Rev. Brian
Thom succeeded The Rev. Sally Shippen as Curate; Glenda Coleman succeeded Pat Hazelett as parish administrator.

1985 In a climbing accident on Mt. Hood, 9 OES students and faculty people died. There are memorials
in our garden and behind the building. Altar icon installed.

1986 The Rev. Colin Jones served as assisting priest; The Rev. Michael Weeder and family were given
refuge from South Africa; set of three large unglazed ceramic tile relief wall sculptures donated by the artist, Lynn Kiefer Kobylecky, as a thank offering for her life having been spared in an east Portland plane crash; stations of the cross enhanced.

1987 The Rev. Alcena Boozer served as assisting priest; The Rev. Canon Malcolm Manson named
Canon of the Cathedral and served as assisting priest; The Rev. Judy Bartels ordained to the Diaconate; choir traveled to England and sang at Lincoln and Peterborough Cathedrals and Sherbourne Abby.

1982-90 Commissions were established in the areas of outreach, evangelism, new members,
communications, education, parish life, and peace and justice.

1988 The Rev. Stephen Schneider appointed Curate.

1992 Catechumenate classes held. Family Eucharist started at 9:00 a.m. first Sunday of each month; contemplative prayer group started.

1993 The Rev. John Hanley began serving as deacon of the parish. Parishioners began involvement in
Cursillo movement.

1994 Cathedral was moved to Trinity Church; St. John the Baptist became a parish church; The Rev. Canon
Roy Coulter was named Dean of the Diocese of Oregon; formal “Letter of Understanding” was jointly signed by Vestry and OES Trustees; construction began on addition to Parish/Chapel, adding ADA accessible facilities, offices, and meeting rooms; parish house addition funded entirely by a parish capital campaign; weekly Taize prayer services begun.

1995 The Rev. Anne Bartlett appointed Associate Rector; Lou Ann Pickering sponsored as candidate for
priesthood; Michael Devenney and Pat Morris sponsored as postulants; the Rev. Palmer Pardington served as assisting priest; Jan Barbour succeeded Glenda Coleman as church secretary.

1996 New baptismal font installed; pews altered to accommodate wheel chairs; Julie Harris supported as
a candidate for priesthood; The Rev. Ed Wilson served as assisting priest; Scot Crandal appointed choirmaster; The Rev. LouAnn Pickering ordained to priesthood.

1997 Parishioners were part of the creation, support, and presentation of the OES Community Labyrinth;
labyrinth opened every Sunday morning; labyrinth workshop conducted by the Rev. Lauren Artress

1998 Julie Harris ordained to priesthood; Michael Devenney supported as candidate for priesthood and
served as assisting preacher.

2000 The Rev. Valerie Ambrose appointed Associate Priest. Marisa Tabizon supported as postulant.
Memorial Garden, funded by the family of a parishioner, was dedicated on north side of church; parishioners join OES as volunteers for AASK tutoring program.

2001 The Rev. Canon C. Roy Coulter retires; the parish surprises Fr. Roy with a catered picnic and special
program in his honor and establishes an annual music event in his name. The Rev. Valerie Ambrose appointed Priest in Charge through July 2002. Bishop Robert Ladehoff approved the launching of the parish rector search process, a written and participatory parish survey was conducted in preparation. Flentrop organ enlarged and improved; cushions purchased for some of the pews; parish sound system replaced and assisted hearing devices acquired; Marisa Tabizon supported at Yale Divinity School; The Rev. Pat Morris ordained to the Diaconate; The Rev. LouAnn Pickering appointed assisting priest; OES/St. John’s Community-Building Forums presented a discussion of the Islam religion.

2002 The Rev. Robert H. Bryant is called as St. John’s third rector, beginning his ministry here on
December 1.

2005 The Rev. Julie H. Smith is called as part-time Associate Rector, beginning her ministry here on
November 1.

2007 The Rev. Deacon Julia K. Jensen called to St. John’s in April

2008 The Rev. Jeff Littlefield is called as Associate Rector.