Incarnation Church

OThe Beginning of a Community  by Matthew J. Rieger (written 2009)

It was in the year 1907 that several members of St. Stephens Church on 22nd and Clinton approached Archbishop John Ireland, head of the Archdiocese of St. Paul, regarding the establishment of a new church south of Lake Street. The area was then considered the southern outskirts of Minneapolis. The Archbishop was reluctant to do so, however, because he felt the area, which was primarily open prairie with a scattering of homes, had too few Catholic families. Finally, after many meetings and several conferences with his Minneapolis priests, Archbishop Ireland appointed Father James M. Cleary as the founder and pastor of the new parish. This was in the summer of 1909. 
 

Father Cleary was born in Dudham,  Massachusetts on September 8, 1849, the son of Thomas and Julia Cleary who had come to this country from County Galway, Ireland. There were five other boys besides James in the family, and his father, a farmer, found it difficult to make a living from the stony soil. The family moved to Walworth County, Wisconsin where the future priest spent the greater part of his childhood attending public schools and caring for daily tasks  around the farm. At the age of 15 years, young James was sent to St. Lawrence College near Fond du Lac and then to St. Francis College at Milwaukee. He finished his seminary course in 1871. Priesthood was conferred on the young man when he was but 22 years old. The ordination took place in the chapel of St. Francis Seminary on July 9, 1872. He celebrated his first mass the following Sunday in St. Peter's Church, East Troy, Wisconsin.

http://www.inc-scj.org/our-history.html

I live across from this church at 38th Street and Grand Avenue.  It is an active church.  It is wonderful to see how the population on the church has changed, and how the church has changed to meet these needs.   The congregation has several Spanish services, and today I sat in on a quinceañera.

Stewart Memorial Presbyterian Church

Stewart Memorial Presbyterian Church, now Redeemer Missionary Baptist Church, is a Prairie School church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the Lyndale neighborhood. The Prairie School architecture was uncommon for use in churches. This church, which has a flat roof and broad eaves, but lacks a bell tower and other traditional church features, was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois. It was designed by the firm of Purcell & Feick before George Grant Elmslie became a partner of the firm. The congregation was an offshoot of First Presbyterian Church and was named after the Reverend David Stewart.

The main portion of the church is organized around a cube-shaped auditorium with light provided by a wall of eastward-facing green-tinted windows. It has a narrower section with a deep balcony that extends to the south. Decoration is relatively modest, consisting mainly of wood strips in geometric patterns. The exterior is faced in brick and stucco. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. In 1988, Redeemer Missionary Baptist Church bought the building and raised over $2 million for restoration and renovation.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewart_Memorial_Presbyterian_Church

Here's some more really interesting information: http://archive.artsmia.org/unified-vision/architectural-tour/stewart-1.cfm

Stewart Memorial Presbyterian Church
(now Redeemer Missionary Baptist Church), 1909-10
Purcell and Feick
116 East 32nd Street, Minneapolis

Stewart Memorial Presbyterian Church (now Redeemer Missionary Baptist Church) is one of the few Prairie School churches ever constructed. It is considered the first modern church in Minnesota and one of the first progressive structures in the Twin Cities. Purcell's revolutionary design clearly demonstrates Louis Sullivan's adage that "form follows function." With its cubic form, flat roof, large windows, broad eaves, and lack of a steeple, it was an unconventional form for a church at that time.

Purcell justified the absence of a bell tower as a way to save money and to imply that modern communication had rendered such a feature obsolete. The small neighborhood congregation held its services at a set time every Sunday, and if emergency information had to be conveyed, it could be done by telephone.

The church's cubic form is reflected in the main worship space inside. The square area has a balcony on the south side, as opposed to the conventional cross-shaped nave and transept. This floor plan allowed the entire congregation to be close to the celebrant during the service.

Purcell used continuous wood trim on the walls and ceiling to unify the interior. Simple cruciform designs are the main ornament, along with geometric electroliers, or electric chandeliers, featuring bare bulbs, still novel at the time. The most spectacular elements of this flexible space are the large, sliding west walls that now open from the main space to a two-story atrium surrounded by classrooms and offices. These glass pocket doors were walled over until the congregation could afford to build an education wing. Purcell and Feick anticipated this addition, which another firm designed and executed in 1915. The church was extensively restored in 2000.

(This was taken from the MIA link above

The sad thing is based upon what I could see, there was no money for upkeep.  The trim was falling off and plantings were in need of some attention.  

Introduction to this blog

Every day I ride around my neighborhood, and surrounding neighborhoods, and wonder at the history. Who lived here before?  What were the values?  What was life like?  

A lot can be learned from studying the churches and places of worship in these neighborhoods.  Now, as always, communities gathered around and in their churches, temples and mosques.  Many of these quiet, out of the way oneway streets and hidden areas house building that were once vibrant places, now slowly being forgotten, sliding into obscurity and memory.  

For now, until I'm able to make direct contact, I may "lift" from an existing website or source, I will in all cases site this material (albeit not correct APA or other formats).  If I miss it, forgive me and send me a message.  My intent is never to plagiarize, sometimes I move too quickly! 

 

TC Hidden Churches will be a way to remembered and preserve this heritage, lest (I like that word) they be  totally forgotten.  Give me your suggestions, send me pictures and bios!  This could be a lot of fun!