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 Local Catholic Church History and Catholic Ancestors

of
Washington
      The geographic area of Washington is in the ecclesiastical province of Seattle which includes the Archdiocese of Seattle (Washington) and Dioceses of Spokane and Yakima (Washington).
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Washington Counties
Though the areas of jurisdiction for the Church dioceses may not follow civil county lines exactly, this list may help you to identify which diocese presently encompasses the county you are researching.  Keep in mind that one diocese may encompass a portion of a county, while the remaining portion is included within another diocese, especially if you are researching in an area near a boundary.
New dioceses and parishes have been formed to serve the needs of the Catholic people throughout the history of this area.  Usually, the earlier the time period, the larger the geographic area served by a missionary/pastor.  In 1838, for example, the area served by Rev. François Norbert Blanchet, vicar-general of the Oregon Mission, and his assistant, Rev. Modeste Demers, extended "from California to Alaska and from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean."  See a brief historical sketch.
In addition, civil boundaries have changed as the Washington area has developed through the years.
The following western counties are partially, or completely within the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Seattle:
+ CLALLAM + CLARK + COWLITZ + GRAYS HARBOR + ISLAND + + JEFFERSON + JUAN + KING + KITSAP + LEWIS +
+ MASON + PACIFIC + PIERCE + SKAGIT + SKAMANIA +
+ SNOHOMISH + THURSTON + SKAMANIA + WHATCOM +

The following eastern counties are partially, or completely within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Spokane:
+ ADAMS + ASOTIN + COLUMBIA + FERRY + FRANKLIN +
+ GARFIELD + GRANT + LINCOLN + OKANOGAN + PENDOREILLE +
+ SPOKANE + STEVENS + WALLAWALLA + WHITMAN +

The following south central counties are partially, or completely within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Yakima:
+ BENTON + CHELAN + DOUGLAS + GRANT +
+KITTITAS + KLICKITAT + YAKIMA +

For Eastern (Byzantine) Catholic see also:

 

Catholic Cemeteries
Historical Research of Catholic Churches & Ancestors
Washington
In the 1770s, there were Spanish explorations of the area.
In 1825, Fort Vancouver was established by Great Britain, and run by Hudson's Bay fur-trading company.
In 1836, the Oregon Country north of the American line became part of the vicariate Apostolic of Bishop Provencher of Red River.
In 1838, the Archbishop of Quebec appointed Rev. François Norbert Blanchet  vicar-general of the Oregon mission.  Accompanied to the new mission by Rev. Modeste Demers, the two priests became known as "Apostles of the Northwest", with their missionary territory extending "from California to Alaska and from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean."2
The Vicariate Apostolic of Oregon was established in 1843, with jurisdiction including the area of the present states of Washington and Oregon.  The next year, Pierre-Jean De Smet , a Jesuit missionary, conferred with Bishop Blanchet at Fort Vancouver, and soon founded "St. Ignatius Mission among the Kalispels of the Bay, who dwelt on Clark's Fork of the Columbia river, forty miles above its mouth."
In 1846, Oregon City (present day Portland, Oregon) became the Archdiocese of Oregon City, and the Dioceses of Walla Walla, and Vancouver's Island were established within this province.2   Bishop Augustine Magloire Blanchet, Francois Blanchet's brother, was appointed the first bishop of the new Diocese of Walla Walla, and Rev. Demers was made the Bishop of the Diocese of Vancouver's Island.2   The same year, the sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, under the care of Right Reverend François Norbert Blanchet and Father De Smet, S.J., began work among the Indians of the Oregon mission.  (See also Vancouver, British Columbia.)
In 1846, Canada and the United States agreed upon the present boundary between the two countries.
In 1848, the Oregon Territory was established.  It included the geographic area of today's states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
The Diocese of Walla Walla was transferred to Nesqually in 1848, with it's headquarters at Fort Vancouver.
In 1889, Washington was admitted as the 42nd state.
The Diocese of Nesqually was again transferred, in 1907 to its present location of Seattle.
In 1913, the Diocese of Spokane was established.
In 1951, the Diocese of Seattle was elevated to an Archdiocese, and the Diocese of Yakima was established.
 See also Catholic Biographies
Explorers and Missionaries Dioceses and Churches
 Archdiocese of Vancouver, Province of British Columbia.2
Locate Catholic Churches & Mass Times: in Washington
Religious Organizations
 Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace - Western Province: (live and serve in Alaska, British Columbia, Washington State, Oregon, California and Nevada).
Schools

Catholic History General
Holy Angels Church: An African American Catholic Community in Chicago, Illinois, has a wonderful collection of information and links concerning Black Catholics in history throughout the U.S. and Worldwide!
Locate Catholic Churches and Mass Times in the United States
Definitions:

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Catholic Biographies
If you know of a web site for a biography of a Catholic with a Washington connection, please let me know.
Explorerers and Missionaries
  • Rev. François Norbert Blanchet - (1795-1883) "...His name will be forever illustrious in the history of the Church in America as the first archbishop of the Northwest and the Apostle of Oregon..."
  • Rev. Modeste Demers - (1809-1871) Bishop of Vancouver Island, and "An apostle of the Pacific Coast of North America, and the first Catholic missionary among most of the Indian tribes of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia..."
  • Augustin Magloire Blanchet - (1797-1887) "Brother of François Norbert Blanchet, first Bishop of Walla Walla-Nesqually...He is revered as the Apostle of Washington..."
  • Pierre-Jean De Smet - (1801-1873) Born in Belgium, De Smet became a Jesuit priest and "Missionary among the North American Indians".
  • The African-American Bishops
  •  Most Reverend Gordon B. Bennett, S.J.: Born in Denver, Colorado; Educated at Mount St. Michael's. Spokane, Washington.

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    Washington History, Genealogy, Geography and Directory Links
    Note:  The links below are not specifically Catholic, however, they may be helpful for finding additional information about the area.
  • Official Cities for Washington - by Kevin & Tamie Hyde.
  • The State of Washington's Official Home Page.
  • Washington State Library.
  • Yahoo Get Local for the state of Washington - Directory and Yellow Pages.
  • USGenWeb
  • Travel: See history in action at Fort Vancouver, the outpost of an empire - by Kristin Jackson, Seattle Times travel reporter, (Aug. 27, 1997).
  • NPS: Fort Vancouver: National Historic Site.
  • British Columbia's History of Education Homeroom:  Timeline of History.


    • Contact:  Webmaster
    I am voluntarily creating this site as a helpful guide to researching the history of the local Catholic Churches and to help genealogists who are researching Catholic ancestors in this geographic area.
    Though links to this page for Catholic Church, genealogical, historical research and non-profit use are encouraged, please do not download the page without requesting permission since it contains copyright protected material.
    If you find an error, have a suggestion, or a site that you believe will be helpful, please let me know.  --Ann Mensch
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    Copyright 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Ann Mensch.  All Rights Reserved.
    References used include:
     List
  •    Archdiocese of Seattle  (Washington)
  •    Diocese of Spokane  (Washington)

    •    Diocese of Yakima  (Washington)