History of St.
Benedict's
St. Benedict's
started out as St. Juliana, a tiny wood church in Spenard, Alaska.
That church was replaced by a larger wooden-framed building
(see photo above, St.
Juliana after being moved to current Jewel Lake Road site). In
the late 1960s, St. Juliana literally picked up and moved to the
then-growing Sand Lake area of Anchorage.
So how did the church get re-named to St. Benedict's?
According to a Archbishop Ryan, who was here at the time, during
the move to its current location, this coincided with a special
visitation by a Benedictine priest. In honor of that priest's
intended stay in Anchorage, the Archbishop re-named St. Juliana to
be St. Benedict -- in the priest's honor. Ironically, the priest
never stayed, the name of the parish did.
The first new building to be built was the rectory -- at that
time planned to house two priests. Later the new church was built.
The building that was moved continues to be used, now serving as the
parish "Archangel Attic".
History doesn't not just stop, however. It's a living thing.
As our history continues, we'll be watching for a new youth center
going up -- downhill from the St. Juliana building, and just behind
our current church and the rectory.
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