BREAKING: St. James Episcopal Church in Milton-Freewater has officially closed its doors after a poignant farewell service on January 18, 2023. The congregation, which dwindled to just a handful of loyal members, faced an inevitable closure as attendance fell sharply over the years.
Worshippers gathered one last time, bringing warmth and nostalgia to the historic church, but the atmosphere was bittersweet. Lynn Crawford, a member since 1976, expressed the community’s loss, stating, “We just ran out of people. Everybody got old or sick or moved away.”
The decision to close, made on August 17, 2023, reflects a broader trend noted by the Pew Research Center, which revealed a 9% decline in Americans identifying as Christian since 2014. With only 10 to 12 attendees left, maintaining the church became financially unfeasible, costing thousands in utilities for such a small group.
In a striking farewell, Bishop Patrick Bell urged the congregation to grieve but also to hold onto hope, emphasizing, “We are not closing a church, we are closing a building. Dear friends, you are the church.”
As the church board allocates its remaining funds—over $10,000 to scholarships and local ministries—the future of the church building remains uncertain. Plans to potentially relocate St. James’ sanctuary to the nearby Frazier Farmstead Museum are stalled due to difficulties in finding the necessary expertise and funding for such a move.
The Frazier Farmstead has expressed interest in housing the church, especially as demands for indoor event space increase. However, museum officials admit that resources are limited, leaving the church’s future in limbo.
Crawford lamented the church’s decline, highlighting the diminishing participation among younger generations. “We went from a time when we were raising people up from the congregation to become full-time priests to not being able to find or afford one,” he said.
The last service served as a poignant reminder of the changing landscape of faith communities across the nation. As this chapter closes for St. James, the congregation is left contemplating what lies ahead.
For further insights on the shifting religious landscape in America, refer to the Pew Research Center’s report, “Decline of Christianity in the U.S. Has Slowed, May Have Leveled Off.”
As the bell that once rang twice on Sundays falls silent, the community grapples with the emotional weight of this loss while holding onto the memories of the space they cherished.
