Hillsboro Historical Society

Orenco Presbyterian Church
22785 NW Birch Street

This Craftsman style church with Tudor Revival details was built by W. A. Simmons and I. D. McNish of Portland for $6,553.50 and was dedicated on October 15, 1911. Characteristic architectural features include bell-cast eaves, exposed rafters, wood shingle siding and stucco and half-timbered gable ends. The two story bell tower displays a crenellated parapet and Tudor arches over tripartite louvered vents. A three-sided apse projects from the south end of the sanctuary. F. W. Foley was the architect. This structure has significance as the only building in old Orenco identified as architect-designed.

The Orenco Presbyterian Church had 17 charter members and Archibald McGill hosted the first meeting at his home in May of 1909. The next meeting was held in the Community Hall which was located on the second floor of the Orenco Mercantile building. At this second meeting, Malcolm McDonald and Archibald McGill (president and vice president of the Oregon Nursery Company, respectively) each offered one thousand dollars toward the construction of a church building. The building committee included McGill, W. B. Cunningham and Thomas Goodin.

The Orenco Presbyterian Church now has a new home at NW 231st Avenue and Oelrich Road. This building is currently owned by the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Washington County and serves as this congregation's gathering place.