Written by Phil Wala
Since June 1915, the corner of Franklin and Dupont Avenues in Minneapolis has been home to the Scottish Rite Masonic Center. But did you know that prior to that, from June 4, 1911, until June 6, 1915, the sign outside the building read “Hennepin Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church?” This week, and for the next three weeks, we will look at the story of how this building came to be, for four years, the home of Hennepin Avenue Church. And then, on Sunday, May 18, as part of Doors Open Minneapolis, we will have the rare opportunity to actually step inside this building and see the place where our church worshiped more than 110 years ago. Watch for announcements about how to sign up for special tours that the Scottish Rite Masons will offer to our congregation in honor of our 150th anniversary.
The building began in 1894 as the home of Fowler Methodist Church, a new Methodist church rising in the growing and wealthy Lowry Hill neighborhood. By 1911, Fowler had become the third largest Methodist church in Minneapolis, with a membership of 727. Hennepin Avenue Church was first, with a membership of 908, and Wesley Methodist (formerly Centenary Church) was second, with a membership of 873.
In 1911, as Hennepin Church was planning to replace its red brick church at 10th and Hennepin, the Hennepin and Fowler congregations decided to merge. For four years, while the church at Lyndale and Groveland was under construction, the congregations worshiped together using the Fowler church building, but bearing the “Hennepin Avenue Church” name, and led by Hennepin’s pastor, Dr. Andrew Gillies. The forthcoming book, “Aspire! A 150-Year History of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church” will talk more about the reasons for that merger and why it was so controversial.
That decision to merge was made 114 years ago this week, as told in the first news item from “This Week in Hennepin History.”
1911 (April 29)
The official boards of the Fowler and Hennepin churches have agreed to merge their congregations. The initial plan is for each to continue in their present buildings until the Lyndale and Groveland building is complete. Dr. Gillies and a new assistant pastor, to be hired, will alternate their preaching duties between the two locations, while Fowler’s pastor, Dr. James Montgomery will accept a call to a church in Washington, DC, where he will eventually become chaplain of the US House of Representatives. (Minneapolis Journal)
1874 (April 28)
Centenary Church, mother of Hennepin Church, hosts renowned revivalist Rev. Margaret (“Maggie”) Van Cott who, in 1869, became the first woman licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church. To find out more about this remarkable woman, see https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51356861/margaret-ann-van_cott.
1917 (April 29)
The flagpole to be erected in front of Hennepin Avenue Church will be the highest flagpole in the city of Minneapolis. (Minneapolis Tribune)
1997 (Sunday after Easter)
On the Sunday after Easter (which in 1997 would have been April 6), Rev. Sally Howell Johnson preached a message entitled, “Easter is Over … Now What?” Listen to that sermon here:
