Catholic Churches in Oregon

The Archdiocese of Portland was established July 24, 1846, as the Archdiocese of Oregon City—the second oldest archdiocese in the United States.  At the time it was created, the archdiocese included the Oregon Territory—the modern states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and western Montana—with the addition of Vancouver Island.  

Today, the Archdiocese of Portland extends from the Washington border on the north to the California border on the south, and from the Pacific Ocean to the crest of the Cascade Mountains.

Over the past 150 years, many churches have been built in western Oregon.  The first Catholic church in Oregon was St. Paul Church in the town of St. Paul (then, French Prairie).  This church (1846) is the oldest brick building in the Pacific Northwest.

The oldest church in the city of Portland is St. Patrick, built in 1889 (picture at top and right).

Click on the pictures below for more churches in the Archdiocese of Portland.  This is an ongoing project; and, at present, there are just a few churches featured.  These pictures have been developed to highlight their detail against a dark sky—a unique view of our Catholic heritage in western Oregon.

St. Patrick Church, Portland

St. Patrick Church, Portland

St. Andrew Catholic Church, Portland

St. Mary's Cathedral, Portland