Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-03-09
THE CHURCHES Of THE
CITY OF GRANTS PASS
First Church Building Erected
in the Town Still in Use. but
Has Been Renodelled.


heen church town since its early in
fancy aud from that time, when the
pioneer Christian people united in
occasional services, until the present,
when the city has no less than II
church edifces. there has been a
growth and progress in religious in-
fiuences aud interest fully in keeping
with the advancement Of the town in
other lines.
Before the ra ailroad invaded Sonth-
ern Oregon Old Ora Is Pass was at
tacbed to the Jacksonville circuit"
of the Methodist Episcopal church
and once each month preaching SER
vices were held in the little school
house and were attended by small
but faithful congregation.
After the new town Of Grants Pass
came into existence the first step taken
by the church people was the oraRni-
zation of union Sunday school
which was held in the school house,
the old wooden building which then
occupied the site Of the present Cen.
tral school building. The Sunday
school was well attended and was
continued for some time but the town
was growing fast and soon the MEM
bers Of the several denominations be-
came numerous enough to support
organizations OF their own.
The Newman NJ +. church was the
pioneer oragnization and erscted the
first church building in the city.
This church was an unpretentious
structure aand occupied the site of the
present church building on Sixth and
b streets. The congregation soon out
grew the capacity Of the building and
in few years far more elaborate,
commodious and expensive edifice was
erected which is yet the finest church
building in the city. The church is
now prosperiDg under the ministry Of
Rev. O. o. Beckman.
The second church to organize was
Bethany Presbyterian church, started
with membership of six, The SER
vices were first held in the court
house but it was not long before a
very neat aud attractive church build.
ing was under construction at the
corner of Third and l. streets. This
building has twice been enlarged to
meet the demands Of the rapidly
growing church and congregation and
it now has the greatest seating
capacity of any church building in
the city. Rev. Evan p Hughes is the
pastor at the present time.
The Baptist church was third in
the field and erected a very attractive
church building at the corner oi
Seventh and ID streets, In the disas
trous fire Of 1908 this church was one
of the buildings consumed and its LOST
was a severe financial blow TO the or
panization. The ruined building,
however, was speedily replaced by .
more modern, convenient and hand
some structure and the church is now
in flourishing condition under the
pastorate of Rev. }. b. Travis.
When the Newman Nj. f. church
built the present fine ditice, the
former building was purchased by the
Nj. Il. church South and removed tC
Il street near Second 1t has been
modified, modernized and improved
and the first church building erected
in the city is still the house of wor,
ship for thlis organization, the min.
lister being Rev. W. L. Goulder
The Episcopal church was organized
early in the history of the town and
the meetings were first held in the
old Music Hall. Some years later a
very handsome church building was
erected at the corner of Fourth and
ID streets This church now has u
very considerable membership and Is
in highly prosperous condition.
Rev. Frederick G. Williams is the
rector.
The Christian h u rch in
Grants Pass Is u live and growing or.
ganization and has neat church
hull ding at the corner of Fourth and
H. streets, The pastor is Rev. CLARK
Bower
The Roman Catholic faith has
always had many adhereuts in this
city bat not until comparatively
recent years was church building
erected. the location being the corner
of Eighth and d streets. The church
has fairly numerous membership
and is under the charge of Father
The Seventh Day Adventists have
not greatly numerous memership
but support AN active oragnization
and have u very creditable church
building ON Seventh and Il streets.
The Free Methodists have an orgaui.
Eation here, the meetings being held
in the chapel, sufficiently comfort.
able and cOmnodious I'm ildiny IN Mil