St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, church building in Oregon, United States of America
St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church is a log structure built in rustic style that resembles a small mountain cabin with raw timber and large wooden doors. The roof is supported by special stone joints called king-pin trusses, and small glass windows add detail to its simple exterior.
The church was first built in 1926 near Zigzag to serve about 40 families from nearby areas like Welches and Zigzag. After heavy snow caused it to collapse in 1937, Henry Steiner and his sons rebuilt it in the same rustic style.
The church is often called the Church of St. John in the Woods by locals and visitors, reflecting its location nestled among trees. This name shows how the building and its wooded setting became inseparable from the Catholic community's experience of worship and gathering.
The original log building was relocated in the 1970s to make way for a road expansion and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Visitors can explore the well-maintained structure and experience the Steiner family's craftsmanship in its wooded natural setting.
The stained glass windows and pews from the original 1926 building were carefully removed and installed in a new church built in 1972 at a different location, preserving parts of the old structure within the new space. This rescue and reuse creates a living connection between the two buildings.
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