West Union Baptist Church

Infobox_nrhp
name =West Union Baptist Church
nrhp_type =

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caption =
location= 22365 NW West Union Road
Hillsboro, Oregon
lat_degrees = 45
lat_minutes = 34
lat_seconds = 25.42
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 122
long_minutes = 54
long_seconds = 24.98
long_direction = W
locmapin =
area =
built =1853
architect= William Kane
architecture= Classical Revival
added = July 10, 1974
governing_body = Oregon Baptist Conventioncite web |url=http://www.hillsborohistorical.org/tour/dc/wubaptist.html |title= Historical Tour: West Union Baptist Church |publisher= Hillsboro Historical Society |accessdate= 2008-06-04]
refnum=74001725cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

West Union Baptist Church is a Baptist congregation and historic church structure in West Union, Oregon, United States.

History

The Baptist congregation was founded in 1844 and met in the home of pioneer David Thomas Lenox until 1853, when he donated two acres of his land for a church and cemetery.Buan, Carolyn M. "This Far-Off Sunset Land: A Pictorial History of Washington County, Oregon". Donning Company Publishers, 1999.] Historic names mark old gravestones. "The Hillsboro Argus", October 19 1976.] cite web |url= http://www.temple-baptist.com/history/west_union_baptist_church.htm |title= The West Union Baptist Church |location= Portland, Oregon |publisher= Temple Baptist Church (from McMenamins Pubs Newsletter. 2003-2004 edition.) |accessdate= 2008-06-04] The one-story, Classical Revival style building was built of hand-sawn lumber on what is now West Union Road for a little over $1,500.citation
last = Norman
first = James B., Jr.
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title = Portland's Architectural Heritage: National Register Properties of the Portland Metropolitan Area
place = Portland
publisher = Oregon Historical Society Press
year = 1991
volume =
edition = revised 2nd
page = 26
url =
doi =
isbn = 0-87595-241-0.] The 30- by 40-foot structure has cedar rafters, fir joists and sills of hand-hewn fir logs. On December 25 1853, the building was dedicated by the Reverend Ezra Fisher. It is the oldest Baptist society and the oldest Protestant church building still standing west of the Rocky Mountains. Pioneers Caleb Wilkens and George W. Ebbert are buried at the cemetery, which is the oldest cemetery in the state.

The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and is currently maintained by the American Baptist Churches of Oregon. [cite web |url= http://www.oregon.gov/MortCem/2005_Directory_abbrev_PartB.pdf |format= PDF |title= Abbreviated 2005 Directory, Part B |publisher= Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Board |accessdate= 2008-06-04] Previously the otherwise unused building was the site of an annual memorial meeting, but the church now holds regular Sunday services.cite web |url= http://www.temple-baptist.com/history/church_history_inclusive.htm |title= Church History |location= Portland, Oregon |publisher= Temple Baptist Church |accessdate= 2008-06-04]

=

ee also

*Imbrie Farm

References

External links

* [http://photos.salemhistory.org/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=all&CISOBOX1=&CISOFIELD1=title&CISOOP2=exact&CISOBOX2=West%20Union&CISOFIELD2=subjec&CISOOP3=any&CISOBOX3=&CISOFIELD3=descri&CISOOP4=none&CISOBOX4=&CISOFIELD4=audiena&CISOROOT=all Historic images of West Union Baptist Church and cemetery] from Salem Public Library
* [http://www.bobg.org/West_Union.htm Images of Lenox grave marker and sign in front of church]