Music by Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi will fill the historic Steiner Log Church in Welches this spring when the Bach Cantata Choir presents two special performances on Sunday, May 17.
The choir will perform the same one-hour program twice that afternoon, with concerts scheduled from 3 to 4 p.m. and again from 5 to 6 p.m. at the small hand-built Steiner Log Church, 68835 E. Barlow Trail Road.
The performance will feature 30 voices from the Bach Cantata Choir accompanied by two violins and a harpsichord. The program includes works by Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, and Antonio Vivaldi.
Audience members will also have the opportunity to join in on several familiar Bach choruses, including the well-known “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”
Artistic Director Ralph Nelson said the concert is designed to be welcoming for listeners of all ages and musical backgrounds, whether they are longtime classical music fans or simply curious to experience live choral music in an intimate setting.
The setting itself is expected to be part of the experience. The Steiner Log Church was built in 1937 by noted log builder Henry Steiner and his sons Fred and John, who constructed dozens of cabins and two churches in the forests at the base of Mount Hood between the 1920s and early 1950s.
Unlike typical log structures, Steiner’s buildings were crafted entirely by hand, using logs, branches, and river stones gathered from the surrounding forest. Many pieces were selected for their unusual shapes, twists, and burls, giving each structure a distinctive and whimsical architectural style that became known as the “Steiner” look.
Of the two Steiner churches built in Oregon, only the Welches church remains today. The building was painstakingly restored over several decades by Mike Gudge and Henry Steiner’s son, John, preserving what many consider one of the region’s most remarkable historic structures.
Because of the building’s small size, seating is limited to about 60 people per performance, creating an intimate setting for both singers and audience members. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Doors will open 30 minutes before each concert, giving visitors time to step inside the historic structure and take in the intricate craftsmanship before the music begins.
Parking at the site is limited, with space for roughly 10 vehicles near the church. Additional parking is available along Barlow Trail Road, and organizers encourage attendees to carpool if possible. Volunteers will be on site to help direct parking and guide visitors along the short walk from the road to the church. Because of the building’s historic construction, the Steiner Log Church is not wheelchair accessible.