history

The creation of St. Aidan’s filled a need for a mission in the area north of Stark Street and east of 162nd in Gresham. This dream was fulfilled with the help of then-Bishop James Carman and a small group of people in the area. After several meetings, the first service was held at North Rockwood School on 172nd.  Forty-three people attended the service.

In 1961, after many months of conducting services in school gymnasiums, the church moved into a portable building on N. E. 172nd. Church members met at this location for 18 months until the building was uprooted and moved to the land where Murdock Hall now stands.

In the summer of 1964, the church experienced a major shock when an arson fire destroyed the portable building. Fortunately, the flames did not reach the newly completed church building. Eventually, the portable building was replaced by the Parish Hall (later renamed Murdock Hall) and the Sunday School Building (later renamed Likowski Hall).

Any recorded history of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church would be incomplete without mention of the major role Trinity Episcopal Church (Now Trinity Cathedral) played in the establishment and development of St. Aidan¹s. Dr. Lansing Kempton, rector of Trinity, saw St. Aidan’s as a “church in the woods”, and his leadership was key in sponsoring the new church. Trinity also bought all furnishings in the church, including the pews and the organ.

The Josefa May Rees Memorial Garden, located between Likowski and Murdock Halls, was established May 28, 1972. Jo Rees was the wife of Rev. William R. Rees, who served St. Aidan’s rector pro-tem until the arrival of the Rev. James B. Likowski. Jo Rees was an inspiration to all who knew her during long years of a debilitating illness. Since she passed away in 1972, many members of the congregation have interred the ashes of their loved ones in this lovely garden.

The clergymen who have served St. Aidan’s include: Thomas Murdock, 1962-1970; James B. Likowski, 1970-1982; David A. Lounsbury, Interim, 1982-84; Lauriston H. McCagg, 1985-l987; Richard Welsh, 1987-1994, and Scott Dolph, Interim, 1994-96, who in 1996 became our rector until 2014; Esme Jo Rymer Culver served as Rector until 2022.