Did you ever hear of a church that moved… its entire building? St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Minneapolis has a fascinating, migratory past. St. Paul’s wasn’t always at its current location. Its journey began in 1872, under the leadership of Pastor O. A. Bergh. The congregation initially gathered at the corner of 4th Street and 15th Avenue. They worshipped in a modest building, purchased from the First Congregational Society of Minneapolis. Imagine, this was before Minneapolis even had its first horse-car line!
Years passed, and St. Paul’s congregation grew. By 1883, they needed more space. They decided to relocate their original church building to the back of the property. In its place, they erected a new, larger structure. This new church became a cornerstone of the community, standing as the third Scandinavian Lutheran church in Minneapolis. Later, in 1925, St. Paul’s acquired the Bethlehem Lutheran Church property at 18th Street and 14th Avenue South. This marked their second major move. The congregation held its first service in the new building in January 1927. Interestingly, the stones used to construct this church were salvaged from the ruins of the old Westminster Presbyterian church. This church had previously stood where Dayton’s store is now located. The old St. Paul’s building on 4th Street found a new life. It became the home of St. James African Methodist Church.
St. Paul’s continued its journey in 1964. The church relocated to its present location, the former First Presbyterian Church property. This move was necessitated by the construction of freeways. The building itself holds its own historical significance. It was originally built by the oldest Protestant church in the Northwest. Even the bell in the tower has a story. It was used in the early days of Minneapolis to call villagers to meetings. Throughout its many moves and transformations, the purpose of St. Paul’s has remained constant. St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church has served the Phillips community for 150 years. They strive to “know Jesus, grow in Him, and share Him with others.” They offer Sunday services at 10:30 am, with Sunday school for both adults and children at 9:00 am.