Built in 1868 on the Swinomish Indian reservation at LaConner, Washington. Skagit county.
The first Catholic services attended by the Swinomish Tribes were in 1840 on Whidbey Island.
The first church was a structure of poles with a roof of mats. Outside hung a bell which rang the day the Point Elliot Treaty (between the US and several NW Washington Tribes) was signed in 1855. The bell hangs in the present church.
4 comments:
What a great history to go along with a beautiful little church.
I do like the simplicity of this little church. Is the bell ever rung do you know? Or just a historical ornament now...
It is rung during Native funeral processions as the community walks the casket from the point of memorial (not always at the Catholic church) past the church to the old graveyard.
So, panabode, where are you located? LaConner? Swinomish? Padilla Bay? Samish? Come on let me know. MB
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