URGENT UPDATE: St. James Episcopal Church in Milton-Freewater held its final service on January 18, marking a poignant end to a congregation that has dwindled over the years. This closure reflects a troubling national trend, as recent data shows a significant decline in American Christians.
During the last service, the atmosphere was bittersweet, filled with warm memories and laughter, but the congregation of just a handful was aware they were saying goodbye. Long-time member Lynn Crawford, who has been part of the church since 1976, noted that the decision to close was finalized on August 17, but signs of decline had been evident for years.
A Pew Research Center study from 2025 highlights that the number of Americans identifying as Christians has dropped by 9% since 2014 and 16% since 2007. Furthermore, only 33% of Christians attend religious services at least monthly, a figure that has remained stagnant since 2020.
Crawford explained, “You can’t say it was just one time. We didn’t have the generation that had the children.” As attendance dwindled to just a handful of loyal members, the burden of maintaining the church became unsustainable. “We just ran out of people. Everybody got old or sick or moved away,” he lamented.
Following the closure, church officials decided to distribute remaining funds to local ministries and scholarships while allocating $10,000 to explore the feasibility of relocating the church to the Frazier Farmstead Museum. However, the prospects of a move remain uncertain, as finding the right experts and funding presents significant challenges.
Dawn Fehrenbacher, director of the museum, expressed hope that relocating the church could enhance space for community events, citing increased requests for weddings and memorial services. Yet, the logistics of moving such a historic structure remain daunting.
In an emotional farewell, Bishop Patrick Bell urged congregants to grieve but also to hold onto hope. “We are not closing a church, we are closing a building,” he reassured them, emphasizing that their spirit as a community will endure beyond the physical space.
As St. James Episcopal Church closes its doors for now, the silence of its once-resounding bell echoes a broader cultural shift within American society. The church, which has stood since 1944, serves as a poignant reminder of changing faith landscapes and the importance of community in times of transition.
For ongoing updates on this developing story, stay tuned.
