Historically, Portland has been a religious city. In modern times, however, it has become the least religious city in the United States.
According to a Public Religion Research Institute survey, 42% of Portlanders do not identify with any organized religion. That is 9% more that the two runner ups, San Francisco and Seattle, 33% each. Of these people, 4% identified as Atheists, 8% identified as Agnostic, and 29% said their religion is "nothing in particular."
History
Like most American cities, for most of its history, Portland was overwhelmingly Christian. The first Protestant church in Oregon was built in Oregon City starting in 1842. Completed in 1844, this Methodist church was also the first Protestant church on the continental West Coast of what became the United States. The oldest existing church is St. John's Episcopal Church, now known as Oaks Pioneer Church. Fashioned from a partly completed house owned by pioneer Lot Whitcomb, it was the first Episcopal church in Oregon. The church was built in Milwaukie and the building was moved to its current location in Sellwood in 1961 after it had been practically abandoned in favor of a newer building which still exists today on the corner of SE Jefferson and 21st in Milwaukie. In an 1890 analysis of Portland, E. Kimbark MacColl wrote "Portland was well endowed with churches, with approximately one for every 600 residents." On July 26, 1897, the Northwestern States Mission (headquartered in Portland) was organized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to search out Latter-day Saints who had moved to Oregon. In 1887, businessmen that were members of the LDS Church established a lumber mill near Baker, Oregon. This act, combined with the prophecies of church apostle Franklin D. Richards that there would be stakes in Oregon, led to the further migration of Latter-day Saints into the state.
Catholicism
The city's archdiocese is the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. The current archbishop of Portland is Alexander King Sample. St. Mary's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the cathedral for the archdiocese. There are multiple religious orders in the area, including the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon, the Servite Order, and the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. The Grotto is a monastery on Rocky Butte that is known for their elaborate Christmas light displays.
The archdiocese operates ten High Schools, six of which are located in the Portland area. Central Catholic High School, De La Salle North Catholic High School, Jesuit High School, La Salle High School, St. Mary's Academy, and Valley Catholic School. The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist also operate the Franciscan Montessori Earth School & Saint Francis Academy which serves Pre-K through 8th grade.
History
From 1843 to 1846, the Oregon Country was an apostolic vicariate, led by Francis Norbert Blanchet. In 1928, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon was founded with Edward D. Howard as the first archbishop.
Protestantism
Baptists
In addition to some Southern Baptist Churches, Portland has many Independent Baptist Churches. First Baptist Church in Downtown Portland is the largest Baptist church in the area.
Episcopalianism
The Episcopal Diocese of Oregon of the Episcopal Church serves Portland. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is the Diocese's Cathedral. The current bishop is Diana Akiyama.
History
On May 18, 1851, Two reverends along with four parishioners organized Trinity Episcopal Church in Portland. It was the first Episcopal congregation organized in the Oregon Territory. The two reverends went on to organize parishes in four other Oregon cities by the end of the year.
In 1853 the congregation had grown to 25 parishioners, and called its first rector, the Rev. John D. McCarty.A new building, located at the corner of Southwest Second Avenue and Oak Street in Portland on land donated by parishioner Benjamin Stark, was consecrated by the newly elected Missionary Bishop of the Missionary District of the Oregon and Washington Territories, the Right Rev. Thomas Fielding Scott, it was the first Episcopal church building north of San Francisco and west of St. Paul.