CONSTRUCTION has begun!
Cross removal and street closures are scheduled for MONDAY, June 22 – THURSDAY, June 25.
Groveland Ave will be closed from 9AM-3PM between Lyndale Ave and Clifton Pl on June 22-25.
Cross removal POSTPONED until tomorrow, Thursday, June 25 due to weather and time constraints. For those interested in watching, the window for removal will likely be 10am-1pm. Starting at 10am, cranes will secure the cross, and final cutting, detachment, and removal will occur after that. (Updated 6/24 | 1:20pm)
Due to the natural deterioration of our cross over the past 111 years, it will need to be removed and replaced. Removal is scheduled for early June due to safety needs, machinery availability, and weather conditions. Plans are in the works to recast a new cross and reinstall it, ideally, in October.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the church still open? Yes. Church operations will continue throughout the project. However, the sanctuary will be closed June 8–11 and may remain closed through June 13 if necessary.
How will this impact parking? The church’s main parking areas will remain available, and all parking lot entrances will be accessible. Visitors should enter through the East Entry Door (Door #1), the main entrance to the building.
Do you have permits for this work? Yes. The church has coordinated with the City of Minneapolis and obtained all necessary permits and approvals for the project.
Will streets be closed? Yes. Groveland Avenue between Lyndale Avenue and Clifton Place will be closed during crane operations. Lyndale Avenue and Clifton Place will remain open. Some sidewalks and areas surrounding the sanctuary will be temporarily restricted for safety reasons.
Will the Dignity Center remain open? Yes. The Dignity Center will continue operating during its regular hours—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Guests are asked to follow posted signs and safety directions while navigating the church campus.
Will there be a new cross? Yes. The church intends to replicate the historic design and commission a new steeple cross. Installation is anticipated by October 2026.
Reflection on the process from Lead Pastor, Rev. Elizabeth Macaulay:
Icons matter. Our steeple and cross have stood for 110 years. The skyline of Minneapolis is graced by the elegance and proclamation of our steeple and cross. The grace of the spire draws eyes upward toward the beauty, promise and power of the cross.
Next week our cross will be lifted from the steeple. Why? As with all things, our cross has experienced the effects of 111 years of rain and snow and time. The cross is literally falling apart. It has become unsafe.
While we are removing the cross we will be able to ascertain the health of the cladding on the steeple.
Plans are already underway to fabricate a cross identical to the old cross. Our plan is that the cross will be lifted up onto the steeple sometime this fall.
In the meantime, I am honest about the pain I will experience seeing that cross come down and the steeple capped for a time. To what will the steeple point? What will it feel like to have a long-treasured icon taken from our building and the panorama of the Minneapolis skyline?
It will feel like the ache accompanied by change. New life and a sound cross are witnesses to the power of the Spirit moving in this place and in all of creation. The space created by absenting the cross for a time will give us a chance to commit to the iconic meaning of our ministry.
We are a church committed to transformation and new life. 111 years ago the cross was placed. The years over which it reigned were dense with power.
The cross being crafted will grace our building and this city with the promise it proclaims: New life and transformation in the way of Jesus call to each and to all.
Take a breath with me. Mark the power of this time. Give thanks. Believe in all that is yet to come.
Pastor Elizabeth