URGENT UPDATE: St. James Episcopal Church in Milton-Freewater has closed its doors following a dramatic decline in attendance, marking the end of an era for its loyal congregation. The final service on January 18 was bittersweet, as members gathered for what would be their last moments in a space that has served them since 1944.
The decision to close was not taken lightly. According to Lynn Crawford, a member since 1976, the church’s board made the difficult choice on August 17, acknowledging a long-term trend of dwindling participation. The Pew Research Center’s recent findings reveal a staggering 9% drop in the number of Americans identifying as Christian since 2014, with church attendance plummeting to just 33% of Christians attending services monthly.
“We just ran out of people,” Crawford lamented, referencing the congregation’s decline from over 100 attendees to just a handful in recent years. The church had previously relied on bequeathed endowments to stay afloat, but financial pressures became untenable as the number of regular attendees dwindled to 10 or 12.
During the final service, Bishop Patrick Bell urged the congregation to grieve the loss of their physical church but to hold onto hope for future steps. “We are not closing a church; we are closing a building,” he reminded them. “Dear friends, you are the church.”
As the church’s future remains uncertain, officials have allocated $10,000 to explore the feasibility of relocating the sanctuary to the nearby Frazier Farmstead Museum. However, progress has been slow, with challenges in finding qualified experts for the move and a lack of funding to support the effort.
“There is room for the structure, but we don’t have the budget or manpower to facilitate the move,” stated Museum Director Dawn Fehrenbacher. She emphasized the growing demand for indoor event spaces, highlighting that requests for weddings and memorial services have increased.
While the church stands silent, the implications of its closure resonate deeply within the community. It reflects a broader national trend of declining religious affiliation, as noted in the Pew Research Center’s report, which highlights the increasing irrelevance of organized religion among younger generations.
As St. James Episcopal Church bids farewell, the impact of this closure extends beyond its walls. It serves as a reminder of the changing landscape of faith and community in America. For now, the congregation leaves behind a rich history, cherishing the memories made within its wooden pews.
Officials continue to seek solutions, and as they navigate this transition, the hope remains that the essence of St. James will live on in the hearts of its members. This developing story will be closely monitored as the community grapples with change and seeks new beginnings.
