By 1884, the need for a church “in town” prompted the construction of our white frame church on what was then called “block eight” of Canby’s 1870 mapped townsite of 24 Blocks. Two lots were donated by the church’s first pastor, Reverend Samuel Mathews. Mathews was a nurseryman, growing trees in the townsite’s western portion. In 1891, he donated a third lot to the Methodists for a parsonage. The house at 569 NW Third was either Mathew’s home or more realistically, the parsonage. In 1910, the church and its two lots were valued at $3,000, but they were soon considered too small. The following year, Frank E. Dodge was hired to build a new Moorish-style church; which still stands and is the current facility for the Church of God in town. At that time, our little white frame building was moved to the north of the lots and turned to face Elm.

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St. James Roman Catholic Parish bought Pioneer Chapel in 1912 and moved it to face NW Third at Elm where it stands to this day. Archbishop Alexander Christie dedicated the little Catholic Church on Thanksgiving Day in 1912. Reverend Father Matthew Jonas lived in quarters at the rear of the building; as did his successor Reverend Father Michael Fleming. During the period that Father Jonas served the church (1915-1934), many improvements were made. Parishioners dug a basement under the church which held a wood-burning furnace and later an oil burner. Stained-glass windows created by the famous Povey Brothers of Portland were added; inclusive of the round one which depicts Jesus at the rock in the Garden of Gethsemane. These were given in memory of Dora Wurfel of Barlow. A pump organ provided music for the services. Pressed tin, crafted by Joseph John Klupenger around 1920, adorns the current interior walls.