Sellwood was home to a Catholic Church that was more of a mission, as a priest would only visit once per month or in the event of an emergency.  There was no Protestant Church to speak of and the schoolhouse would serve as a place of worship for many religious denominations.

Presbyterians of the area had their own church building and ministers were sent to them through the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church of Canada.

Just as mining operations were about to be suspended, the Protestant congregations began discussing the possibility of building a church for themselves.

• The Mine Closes