“It’s always been a little bit of an eyesore for me.” That’s what Reverend Jeff Cowmeadow said about Calvary Baptist Church’s steeple before its restoration. Now, imagine standing here in the Whittier neighborhood. You are gazing up at this remarkable church.
Calvary Baptist Church has been a local landmark for 140 years. It stands proudly at the corner of 26th and Blaisdell. Since May 6, 1883, Calvary has been rooted in this community.
Originally, 24 members founded Calvary. Their dream was simple. They wanted to reach out to neighborhood kids. Whittier was then on the edge of town. It was a new area poised to house business leaders. Minneapolis was becoming the “Queen City of the Northwest.” It was a national flour production leader.
Calvary’s early members reflected this. Prominent business leaders joined the church. The McGarvey and Pillsbury families were among them. Harry Wild Jones, a renowned architect, was also a member. Warren Hayes designed the beautiful sanctuary. Jones supervised its construction. The sanctuary opened in 1902. It stands as a historic landmark today. It also serves as an inviting worship center.
In the 1910s and 1920s, Calvary reached its peak. It had 1400 adult members. In 1928, the Parish House building was completed. Jones also designed it. The Depression era brought change. Many mansions became duplexes. Whittier’s wealthy residents moved out. A more diverse, working-class community moved in.
Calvary’s membership mirrored these shifts. By 1944, many members lived far away. They traveled by streetcar and car. Many inner-city congregations faced this challenge. Some chose to relocate to the suburbs.
Calvary’s members made a different choice. They decided to stay. The church building aged. Much of the neighborhood’s housing did too. Maintaining the building became a labor of love. In the 1980s, the church faced its lowest point. The building needed repairs. Only about 30 members remained. But the congregation stayed committed.
Calvary embraced Whittier’s growing diversity. It became a haven of fellowship. It was a place of refuge. Over the past 20 years, Calvary Church has undergone remodeling. The community has grown into a multicultural congregation.
Calvary is the oldest continuously active church in Whittier. The church was designed in a Richardsonian Romanesque style in 1899. Warren Hayes was the architect.
Today, Calvary embraces radical hospitality. It fosters multicultural relationships. It advocates for justice. It demonstrates commitment to its neighborhood. The church leads a Racial Justice and Healing Initiative. It supports an interfaith preschool. It hosts Narcotics Anonymous meetings. It provides safe spaces for counseling.
A grant helped Calvary complete steeple and exterior repairs. This reinforces the church’s long-term commitment.
So as you stand here, remember the story of Calvary Baptist Church. It is a story of change. It is a story of commitment. It is a story of faith. The restored steeple shines as a beacon. It symbolizes hope and beauty for generations to come.