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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Church Is Where His Heart Is Owner Hopes To See Building Added To Historic Register

Jim Wilkerson keeps a living room shrine to his late wife. It includes pictures of Beverly as a toddler, a teen, a young mom, a grandmother.

But there’s a much sturdier memorial to Beverly not far from the kitchen door: St. Andrews Episcopal Church.

She and Jim maintained the church for 55 years. They bought it four years ago, when the Spokane diocese no longer wanted the sagging building. When Beverly died last year, the pews were crowded with friends who came to pay their respects.

“They put Bev’s casket here,” Wilkerson recalled, showing off the bright sanctuary as fall was giving way to winter in this mountain town.

“The last funeral here before hers was her mother’s, in 1951. I’ll be buried from here, too.”

At 79, Wilkerson’s driving wish in life is that the building be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“We don’t want this church torn down, ever,” he said last week.

The 1888 building spent its first few years as a schoolhouse, then served an Episcopal congregation for a century. Among those familiar with Wilkerson’s devotion to it is longtime friend Harry Magnuson.

The Wallace businessman is a regional director of the private Idaho Heritage Trust.

“It’s a wonderful old building that’s part of our heritage,” Magnuson said. “I think it will be accepted on the national register.”

Thanks to Magnuson, there is a newly incorporated St. Andrews Episcopal Church Historical Society, a nonprofit group that can accept donations. He also encouraged Wilkerson to seek a historic preservation grant from the heritage trust. Its board will decide Nov. 12 which projects will get money this year.

So far, Wilkerson has bankrolled restoration. He’s a retired mechanic and welder who worked for Hecla Mining Co.

Several times a year, parishioners from Wallace’s Holy Trinity Episcopal Church drive up Interstate 90 to hold services in the Mullan church. When they do, Wilkerson makes sure they return home with any donations left in the collection plate.

He paid $950 for the church. Then he spent $3,000 to fix a sagging foundation, $1,300 to paint the interior. Taxes are $410 a year. There’s at least $1,000 worth of electric wiring to be done before power is restored, he said.

A donated gas furnace now sits among the pews, awaiting installation. It will replace the wood stove.

“My wife and I lit the fires for 55 years,” Wilkerson said.

Photographs hanging on the walls include one of the congregation, taken in front of the church about 90 years ago.

Wilkerson pointed to one of the faces captured in black and white. It was his mother-in-law, then 12 or 14 years old. Then he noted that there are no trees showing in the picture. He nodded toward a huge pine now framed by the gothic windows.

“You notice that big tree there? That’s 108 feet tall and 84 years old.”

There have been many changes at St. Andrews over the decades. Wilkerson recalled how rough board benches used to pinch the behinds of the faithful. Those were replaced with pews salvaged from Wallace’s old Providence Hospital.

Jesus presides over the front of the room, in a “Last Supper” tapestry taken from the hospital chapel. Vestments hang in a small room at one side of the altar.

On the other side is the organ, at which Wilkerson performed an enthusiastic rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

“It’s the only song I know,” he said sheepishly.

Last June, Oregon architect Fred Walters examined the church on behalf of Idaho Heritage Trust. He found it in pretty good shape, but wants a structural engineer to confirm that.

The walls are a bit bowed, Walters said, but that’s not necessarily a problem. He was impressed that the church withstood last winter’s heavy snow, which crushed several of the Silver Valley’s other historic buildings.

Steady maintenance is the salvation of historic buildings, he said.

“That’s why we have many older religious structures. Part of the congregation’s expression of their faith is the upkeep of their house of worship.”

Ironically, Wilkerson wasn’t raised an Episcopalian.

“Southern Baptist,” he said with a grin.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color Photos