Old Missoula

One Church Building in 1872; More Than 40 Churches in 1960

Garden City’s Religious Growth Keeps Pace Through the Years

By Judy McVey

Missoula’s growth is reflected largely by its churches which have expanded and increased throughout the years to serve the people. In 1872 Missoula had only one church building; in 1960 the area is served by more than 42.

The first church building, the Methodist Church, was the only church building in town until 1882 and was used by the Episcopalians and Presbyterians as well as the Methodists.

Roman Catholics in this area had been served by Father U. Grassi, S. J., who erected St. Michael’s in 1863 at Hell Gate. Services continued to be held in this chapel until 1873 when a smaller chapel was built in Missoula.

The cornerstone of the St. Francis Xavier Church was laid in Aug. 11, 1891, and the first service was on Oct. 9, 1892. St. Anthony’s Church was started in 1921 with the first service at Christmas of that year. The Rt. Rev. Msgr, Denis P. Meade, V. G., came here from Philipsburg in 1923 as acting pastor and has been pastor since September of 1924. His 37 years of service in Missoula far outdistance any other church leader for continuous service in the Garden City.

First Church Work

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, while not the first Protestant church to be organized here, was the first to begin church work. It conducted the first Protestant services July 10, 1870.

A Presbyterian Church was organized in 1872, but was without a pastor. A pastor was secured in 1877. The present Gothic structure was erected in 1916. The Emmanuel Baptist Church began in Missoula in 1882. A building was erected in 1891 at the corner of Spruce and Harris streets. The church now in use was erected in 1910 at the corner of Pine and Woody streets.

Territorial Evangelist J. L. Phoenix of Pennsylvania established the Church of Christ of Missoula. In 1887 Eli Fisher, who succeeded Phoenix as pastor, built a church at Cedar (now Broadway) and Washington streets in 1888.

Congregational Church

The First Congregational Church of Missoula, known now as the University Congregational Church, was organized in 1891. In 1905 Congregationalists built a church on South Fifth and Chestnut streets, occupied for many years by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. In 1923 Congregationalists dedicated their Spanish-style church at University and Hilda.

The Mission Covenant Church was established in Missoula as the Swedish Mission Church in 1893. A regular pastor was engaged in 1898, and a church was constructed on West Spruce street in 1895.

Started in Tents

The Seventh Day Adventist Church was organized here Feb. 8, 1896, by Elder C. N. Martin, following a series of tent meetings which were on the present site of the Masonic Temple.

In 1918 Seventh Day Adventists moved from an old laundry on the north side of North First street and Wolfe avenue, where they had conducted services, to the building on South Fifth street. They are now building a new church on South avenue.

The First English Lutheran and the Christian Science Churches were established in Missoula in 1897. The First English Lutheran was organized under the Rev. Paul Kretchmaf. At first, services were conducted in German and English, but later the entire program was changed to English. In 1903 the Rev. Gustav Mertz organized a church body and built a church and later an assembly room.

At Pine and Pattee

The Christian Science Church has been a part of the religious life of Missoula since 1897. Services are still held in a building located at the corner of Pine and Pattee streets.

Immanuel Lutheran Church and St. Paul’s English Lutheran Church began in 1906. Immanuel Lutheran, organized as the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church, conducted its early services in the Congregational chapel but later located on Alder street.

The Rev. E. B. Austvold conducted the first services of what was to become St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. In 1926 the church celebrated its twentieth anniversary and dedicated the cornerstone of the church building at the corner of Grand and Brooks.

Foursquare Church

Foursquare Church began as the Southern Methodist Church in 1908. Missoula had been visited in the early ‘90s by pastors of the Southern Methodist faith, among them a Rev. Mr. Frazier, but no organization had been formed before 1908. The first services were conducted at the chapel in the Garden City Commercial College.

These early churches have remained strong throughout Missoula’s history. Since the early 1900s some 29 churches have been added to supply religious needs of Missoula’s population.

Greek Orthodox

Among these are the Greek Orthodox Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Salvation Army and various Protestant churches.

The Missoula Council of Churches includes the First Baptist, First Christian, University Congregational Church of the Holy Spirit, First Methodist, First Presbyterian and Immanuel Lutheran.

Members of the Missoula Ministerial Alliance are the Evangelical United Brethren Church, First Church of God, Foursquare Church, Church of God, Salvation Army, Community Covenant Church, Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, Trinity Baptist, First Assembly of God and Church of the Nazarene.

Both organizations are affiliated with the Missoula Ministerial Association.

This article was accompanied by 2 photographs:

St. Francis Xavier Church in 1890s

This is how St. Francis Xavier Church looked in the 1890s a few years after its completion in October of 1892. The cornerstone for this Missoula landmark was laid in August of 1891. (Courtesy of H. S. Jewett)

Seven of Missoula’s Churches Around 1900

These are some of the church buildings that were in Missoula around the turn of the century. These pictures were published in 1904. From left, across top, are the First Church of Christ, Scientist; Presbyterian, and Baptist. In middle, at left, is the German Lutheran. At bottom from left, are the Scandinavian Christian, and Episcopal. (Courtesy of Mrs. F. F. Fowler)