Bishop’s wife raises green profits
In the 1947 movie classic, “The Bishop’s Wife,” an angel comes to the aid of a clergyman who longs to build a cathedral. Here in Spokane, the bishop’s wife has become an answer to prayer, in her quest to preserve an aging South Hill mansion.
When Gloria Waggoner moved to the city eight years ago with her husband, the Rev. Jim Waggoner, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, she fell in love with their new home in the historic Paulsen House. “What struck me about the house is it’s so perfect for hospitality,” she said.
However, with no endowment or funds set aside for the preservation of the 1911 home, she worried that its upkeep would drain the diocese’s budget. “I immediately got involved in fundraising,” she said. “I wanted to be creative about it.”
In 2005 Waggoner found a way to combine her two passions, environmentalism and Paulsen House. She opened Rosa Gallica LifeStyle Boutique in the basement of the building. One hundred percent of the proceeds generated from the shop goes to the care and preservation of Paulsen House, which in addition to being the bishop’s residence is also the headquarters of the diocese. Last year the boutique raised more than $14,000 in clear profit for the preservation and maintenance fund.
“This used to be the laundry room,” Waggoner said as she welcomed guests to the boutique and pointed to the antique washing machine nestled in a corner. The once dank cellar has been transformed into a cozy retreat lit by twinkling lights and handcrafted stained glass chandeliers.
Waggoner named the store after her favorite rose and has stocked it with Fair Trade products, including certified organic chocolates, teas and spices. In addition, the shop offers vintage china, clothing, linens and heirloom antiques.
“Everything I carry here reflects care for humans and respect for the environment,” she said. A walk through the store with Waggoner is an eco-education. For example, she carries only soy or beeswax candles. According to Waggoner, most commercial candles contain paraffin, a petroleum product.
A popular item is Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds Cleaner. It’s certified organic and nontoxic, and contains natural fir and spruce oils. “I have two local cleaning ladies that regularly buy from me,” she said. Even her greeting cards are eco-friendly. In fact, after reading them, you can plant them. The biodegradable cards are filled with wildflower seeds.
Olive oil from Palestine, chocolates from Ghana, and French Shea Butter soaps reflect Waggoner’s global world-view. She showed guests a small group of hand-forged brass singing bowls from Nepal. As she swirled a wooden stick around the edges of a bowl, a soft, melodic hum resonated. Each bowl has a different tone.
The boutique holds special charm for antique-lovers. “Antiques are the new sustainable,” she said with a laugh. Waggoner paused in front of a display of vintage blue and white china. “It’s so marvelous to purchase something that has a history – even if we don’t know what that history is.”
Members of the diocese staff have embraced Rosa Gallica. Finance officer Libby Beck has created a line of beautiful wildlife-themed pottery that she sells in the boutique. Waggoner also displays and sells the work of local artists both in the boutique and in the first floor Parlor Gallery.
Waggoner’s commitment to preservation hasn’t been confined indoors. One of her first projects was the creation of the Myrtle White Paulsen Meditation Garden. She’s an avid organic gardener, and uses no chemical pesticides or fertilizers. The garden is registered with the international Quiet Garden Movement.
This bishop’s wife – unlike the one in the movie – hasn’t waited for angelic intervention to put her plans into action. Instead, she works hard to educate area residents about Fair Trade and eco-friendly businesses. Waggoner said caring for the earth is a tenet of the Episcopalian faith, and, she’s thankful to have the Paulson House as her base of operations. “To live here and take care of this building is just wonderful,” she said. “This has become my ministry.”