Written by Phil Wala
1872 (April 19)
Presiding elder (district superintendent) Rev. J. F. Chaffee has been accused of immoral conduct due to the reputation of a person he was seated next to on a train. A committee of Methodist ministers investigated the charges and cleared Chaffee of any wrongdoing. This is just a hint of the conflict that will arise within Centenary Church, and which will ultimately lead to the founding of Hennepin Avenue Church. (Minneapolis Tribune)
1891 (April 11)
Ground was broken today for the new Hennepin Avenue Church building on the southwest corner of 10th and Hennepin. Instead of the yellow brick announced last week, the church will now be built of red brick. (Minneapolis Tribune)
1892 (April 16)
Hennepin Avenue Church pastor Dr. F. O. Holman recently preached a sermon questioning popular conceptions of hell. In response, many other Minneapolis ministers took up the topic from their own pulpits. Newspapers across the state are commenting on the situation.
1892 (April 16)
The Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor at Hennepin Avenue Church will be holding a 6am prayer and praise service on Easter morning. Meanwhile, oranges are 5¢ a dozen, and Hedderly & McCracken announces that they have surreys for both Democrats and Republicans.¹
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¹ No word on whether Democrats or Republicans prefer the ones with the fringe on top.
1901 (April 19)
The first Walker art gallery was in T. B. Walker’s home at 8th and Hennepin. The photo shows two valuable vases atop pillars which were loaned to Hennepin Avenue Church for its Easter display — with unfortunate results. (Minneapolis Journal)
1902 (April 22)
Volunteers from Hennepin Avenue Church have been operating an extension Sunday School at the Epworth Chapel¹ for several years. This year they are adding a Kindergarten to give young children a place to go during the summer. (article: Minneapolis Times, photo: HAUMC archives)
__________¹ Epworth Chapel was located on 8th Avenue south between 4th and 5th streets. It operated as a mission of Hennepin church from 1898 to 1907, when it was sold to the nearby 13th Avenue Methodist Church.
1911 (April 18 and 22)
Hennepin will soon begin excavation at its new Lyndale and Groveland property, and there are concerns about disturbing a possible burial mound. However, a few long-time residents remember what the area looked like in the early 1880s and know that it’s just the remnants of one of the hills in the area that were leveled off.¹ (Minneapolis Tribune)
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¹ A recently discovered photo shows just how massive those hills were. Look for that photo in the forthcoming book on the 150-year history of Hennepin Church.
1912 (April 16)
Methodist ministers of 1912 have earned a reputation that makes them unwelcome at local restaurants! (Minneapolis Tribune)
1912 (April 21)
The Minneapolis Tribune prints portions of a sermon preached by Hennepin pastor Andrew Gillies, six days after the sinking of the Titanic.
1995 (April 16 – Easter Sunday)
On May 22, 1994, Hennepin Avenue Church launched a new alternative service on Sundays at 8:30 am. According to church bulletins, the service was held in the sanctuary until moving to the Art Gallery on September 11, 1994. Eventually, the service would come to be known as “Sacred Journey.” On April 16, 1995, Sacred Journey celebrated its first Easter service. Pastor Rod Wilmoth preached and gave a children’s message, Rev. Peter Boehlke read the scriptures, Rev. Pat Toschak offered the benediction, and a team of musicians and vocalists provided the informal worship music. Click here to listen to the very first Sacred Journey Easter service, and click here to see the bulletin from that service.