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Building History

The Parish of Saint James is one of the oldest in the Pacific Northwest, tracing its roots to 11/1838. The Diocese of Nesqually, was founded at Fort Vancouver, WA, in 1846; the first cathedral was consecrated in 1851. For the bishop's second seat at Vancouver, architect Donald McKay (born 1841) worked with the Sisters of Charity of Providence nun, Mother Joseph (nee Esther Pariseau [1823-1902]), on the design. Mother Joseph came to Fort Vancouver in 1856 with the first group of five Sisters of Charity of Providence, and went on to found many institutions serving the poor and sick in the Pacific Northwest, including Providence Hospital in Seattle.

The Corvallis Gazettenoted in 1883: “Donald McKay, an architect of Seattle, is drawing plans for the Catholic cathedral to be built in Vancouver.” (See “General News,” Weekly Corvallis Gazette, 03/16/1883, p. 2.)

The Hidden Brick Company of Vancouver, WA, produced the brick used on this Gothic Revival cathedral, while other materials were brought from elsewhere; stained glass came from San Francisco, CA, the carved wood altar from Belgium and interior mahogany from the Philippines. The diocese governing WA State was transferred to fast-growing Seattle, WA, in 1907. While it served the Bishop of Nesqually, the facility was known as Saint James Cathedral. After 1907, it was known as the Saint James Parish Church.

A restoration campaign began at the end of the 1990s but didn't begin until 2008. New HVAC systems were installed in the church and its rectory. Stained glass windows were removed and restored, as was church statuary. Workers replastered the sanctuary, removed asbestos flooring material, and repainted the walls. New pews were installed and new stone flooring laid.

PCAD id: 8101