Worshipers return to historic Winlock church

Saint Kateri Byzantine Outreach of the St. George Byzantine Parish officially celebrates its first service in its new home

By Mitchell Roland / mitchell@chronline.com
Posted 11/18/24

Surrounded by houses and bordered by Olequa Creek in the heart of Winlock, a once-prominent church sprung to life on Sunday, more than a decade after its closure.

During its afternoon service, …

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Worshipers return to historic Winlock church

Saint Kateri Byzantine Outreach of the St. George Byzantine Parish officially celebrates its first service in its new home

Posted

Surrounded by houses and bordered by Olequa Creek in the heart of Winlock, a once-prominent church sprung to life on Sunday, more than a decade after its closure.

During its afternoon service, the Saint Kateri Byzantine Outreach of the St. George Byzantine Parish officially celebrated its first service in its new home. Divine Liturgy (the Byzantine Catholic Mass) will be held Sundays at 1 p.m. under the direction of Saint George Byzantine Catholic Church in Olympia.

Additionally, the church will offer a compline service on Thursdays at 7 p.m.

The service Sunday, which drew roughly 100 people, offered a new beginning for a building that dates back more than a century.

Originally built in 1908, Winlock's Sacred Heart Catholic Church was shuttered in 2014 by the Archdiocese of Seattle, which said the congregation could no longer financially support itself.

Since then, it has been sold twice, before a collection of Winlock families formed the Sacred Heart Preservation Foundation this summer to purchase the building.

“We felt like, as local Catholics, if anybody was using that building, it should be the Catholics since they built it,” Emma Turrentine, who helped lead efforts to purchase the church this fall, told The Chronicle last week. “We had an extremely successful fundraising campaign.”

As of noon Monday, the foundation has raised $66,575.70 towards its goal of $100,000 through 81 donations. According to Turrentine, the Sacred Heart Preservation Foundation is in the process of obtaining nonprofit status.



According to Turrentine, the previous owner put more than $100,000 into improvements, including new floors and paint.

While the church has raised enough to purchase the church, additional funds will help repair the roof and pay for additional maintenance. The church's exterior will remain largely unchanged, though a cupola with windows will eventually be erected to allow for natural light.

Sunday’s service included a tour of the church, a chili potluck and a question-and-answer session with foundation members.

Parishioners gathered Saturday to prepare the church, which included most of the pews in the nave, as most attendees stand during the service.

Turrentine plans to compile and publish a book detailing the history of the church and Catholicism in the area and is looking for stories and photographs to include. Information can be emailed to history@winlock.church.

“Even if it’s just a silly little story about Easter one year, we’d love to hear it,” she said.

To learn more and donate at www.winlock.church