Central Baptist Church

“A church born from dissent.” That’s how one might describe the Central Baptist Church of Minneapolis. Right now, you’re standing before a church that embodies a spirit of independence and a steadfast commitment to its beliefs. The story of Central Baptist Church begins not in this grand building, but with a small group of individuals who broke away from the First Baptist Church during the tumultuous time of the Civil War. They formed the Union Baptist Church, driven by their unwavering loyalty to the Union. Unfortunately, the exact reasons for the split remain shrouded in mystery, as the Union Baptist papers were lost to a fire. Yet, this spirit of forging their own path continued. In December 1869, the Union congregation took on a new name – the Marshall Street Church. They purchased their own space, a church building originally located at the corner of Marshall (5th Ave.) and 9th St. The congregation thrived and eventually built a new church at Grant and 4th Ave. South in 1883. Designed by architect Warren H. Hayes, this new building, featuring a grand auditorium and a baptistry, marked a significant milestone in the church’s history. It was during this period of growth and change that the church adopted the name Central Baptist Church. Although the building we see today is not the original structure, the spirit of the Union Baptist dissenters, the ones who dared to create a new path for their faith, still resonates within these walls.