St. John’s Cathedral Presents New Research, Art, and Artifacts Examining the History of Christianity in the Inland Northwest

Exhibition Opening September 17 Traces History from Jerusalem to Spokane

SPOKANE, Wash. — St. John’s Cathedral will present Unto the Ends of the Earth: The Legacy of the Great Commission in the Inland Northwest, an exhibition exploring the complex history of Christianity’s spread from the ancient world to the Inland Northwest. The exhibition will run September 17 through November 15, 2026, at St. John’s Cathedral, 127 E. 12th Ave. in Spokane. The exhibition is part of St. John’s multi-year Centennial commemorations, which began in 2025.

Featuring artwork, photography, historic church furnishings, folk art, artifacts and new historical research, the exhibition invites visitors to consider how Christianity took root and spread across the world to the Inland Northwest, and to examine the complicated history that accompanied that expansion.

The exhibition’s theme is drawn from the ground-level stained-glass windows in the Cathedral’s nave, which depict the spread of the Christian church from the biblical account of Jesus sending his disciples to proclaim the gospel through the arrival of the Episcopal Church in the Inland Northwest. The exhibition will be presented from a Christian perspective while also taking a critical historical approach, including consideration of Christianity’s role in the displacement of Indigenous peoples and cultures.

“This exhibition gives us an opportunity to look at our history with both appreciation and honesty,” said Dean of St. John’s Cathedral, The Very Rev. Heather VanDeventer. “The story represented in our stained glass is a story of faith, but it is also a human story. We want visitors to see the beauty and complexity of that history and to ask thoughtful questions about what it has meant for the people and communities who have lived here.”

New research brings the Spokane Garry Bible Collection to life

One of the exhibition’s principal features is new research into five historic books owned by Spokane tribal member Spokane Garry (Slough-Keetcha). New research into the books has uncovered information not previously published, including the identity and story of a formerly mysterious woman associated with one of the volumes. Findings from the research will be presented publicly for the first time this fall to both the Westerner Spokane Corral Historical Society and the Pacific Northwest History Conference.

The Spokane Garry Bible collection will be displayed at the Cathedral on September 19, October 10 and November 7, on loan from the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. A larger interpretive exhibit, including reproductions of the books, will remain on display throughout the exhibition. Anthropologist Dr. David Beine has been a consultant in the research and will present a lecture with more information about the life of Spokane Garry, his descendants, and the chain of custody of the Garry collection at 2pm on November 7.

Spokane’s changing landscape, captured across 124 years

The exhibition will also feature a first-of-its-kind presentation of a 1902 panoramic photograph of Spokane, measuring approximately 25 feet in length. The historic image will be displayed above a modern panoramic drone photograph taken from a comparable perspective with landmarks identified.

Other exhibits will include a side-by-side presentation of Catholic and Protestant “ladders,” examples of religious folk art created as competing representations of biblical history. Previously illegible sections of the ladders have been deciphered or translated from French and Nez Perce for the exhibition.

The exhibition will also include a collection of historic furnishings from the original All Saints’ (Episcopal) Cathedral in Spokane (demolished 1930). Another exhibit features a collection of miniatures of the charming small Episcopal churches originally built in the pioneer days of the Northwest. Some of these churches survive to this day.

“The history of the Cathedral does not begin with the construction of this building,” said Darryl Gurecky, co-chair of the St. John’s Centennial Committee. “It is part of a much larger story—the story of Spokane - of indigenous communities confronted by missionaries, fortune seekers, and government agents, all vying for their souls, resources and lands. Some parts of that story are beautiful, some are difficult, and some have not been fully told. Understanding all of it is essential if we are going to understand our past, assess our present, and improve our future.”

Unto the Ends of the Earth: The Legacy of the Great Commission in the Inland Northwest will be open Thursdays through Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., September 17 through November 15, at St. John’s Cathedral, 127 E. 12th Ave., Spokane. Visits at other times may be arranged by appointment. Admission is free.

For more information, visit St. John’s Cathedral.

About St. John’s Cathedral

St. John’s is the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane and a center for worship, music, study, community and service in the greater Spokane region. The Cathedral welcomes visitors of all faiths and backgrounds for worship, cultural events, tours and opportunities to explore its history and architecture.