Queen of Peace in Portland, Oregon stands as a notable example of post-Vatican II Catholic church architecture. Originally dedicated on August 15, 1965, the church was formerly named St. Cecilia before being renamed Queen of Peace. Architect James Hosey designed the structure.
The church’s most striking feature is the Tree of Life mosaic, composed of three different kinds of clay and light and dark stones, created by artist Raymond Grimm. This impressive stone facade serves as the church’s visual centerpiece.
Multiple renowned artists contributed to the church’s sacred spaces: stained glass windows were designed by LeRoy Setziol using wood frames rather than traditional lead and cement construction; bronze and glass entry doors were created by sculptor Lee Kelly in 1965; Setziol also designed the baptismal and holy water fonts; Raymond Grimm created the Stations of the Cross; the altar was sculpted from Italian Carrera marble by Setziol; and Lee Kelly constructed a sheet metal screen within the sanctuary space.
The combination of these artistic contributions creates an integrated sacred environment reflecting mid-century modern design principles applied to Catholic worship spaces.
