Day 231: Portland Buddhist Church, Portland, Oregon
đź“ŚAPIA Every Day (231) - Established in 1903, the Portland Buddhist Church holds the distinction of being Oregon's first Buddhist church. Its founding came with the arrival of Reverend Shozui Wakabayashi from Japan, who became the eleventh appointed Buddhist minister in the United States. While the church began modestly in two rented rooms in Portland's Japantown, its rapid growth led to a move to larger quarters in 1904. By 1910, the congregation had constructed their permanent home at 86 NW Tenth Avenue.
The three-story building was remarkably versatile, designed to serve multiple roles within the Japanese community. Its first floor housed a sanctuary with a dais for religious services, while the second floor operated as a hostel for Japanese students and laborers, complete with a common kitchen. The minister's residence and Sunday school classrooms occupied the third floor, and the basement featured a social hall and kitchen. Beyond its religious role, the church emerged as a vibrant community center. It hosted a variety of cultural and social activities through organizations like the Fujinkai (women's group), which offered classes in practical skills such as sewing, American cooking, and etiquette. The Young Men's and Young Women's Buddhist Associations organized social events, sports activities, and handicraft classes. Notably, the church housed Portland's only Japanese language high school, making it an essential hub for neighborhood children and families.
The church's history took a dramatic turn during World War II when, in May 1942, it was forced to close as its members were evacuated to incarceration camps. Following the war, the church reopened – first as a hostel to help returning Japanese families rebuild their lives, then resuming religious services that September. The building continued its tradition of community service, even housing victims of the devastating 1948 Vanport flood. While the congregation moved to a new location on SW 34th Avenue in 1965, the original building remains standing today. Now converted primarily to office space (with one residential unit on the third floor), it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
LEARN MORE:
Oregon Buddhist Temple: History of OBT
National Archives Catalog: Portland Buddhist Church NRHP Form
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