St. Paul's History
The second Episcopal Church established
on the Eastern Range was St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Virginia.
(St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Tower, MN, was founded five years
earlier.)
In 1893 Archdeacon Appleby, Missioner
of the Episcopal Missionary District of Duluth, came to Virginia
and began planning for the establishment of an Episcopal Church
with house-to-house visitations. Twelve iron ore mines were located
in the immediate neighborhood of Virginia, and it was decided
that Virginia would be a good center for missionary operations.
In the Spring of 1895 the first service was held with him in the
home of W. H. Eaton. And on June 16, 1895, Evensong was held at
the Presbyterian Church. The original site for a church was set
for the corner of Poplar and Wyoming Avenue (now known as 3rd
Street South and 3rd Avenue South).
The plans for St. Paul's were drawn up in 1895 by Cass Gilbert,
Minnesota's most noted architect. Cass Gilbert designed St. Paul's
while he was working on the plans for the State Capitol Building
in St. Paul. (This fact had become lost to most parishioners until
1997, when an architect, Mr. Thomas Blanck of St. Paul, studying
Cass Gilbert resurfaced this information to a renovation committee.)
On August 15, 1895, bids were opened for construction of the
church at its present site. The cornerstone was laid on September
15, 1895. Following the cornerstone laying, Holy Communion was
celebrated at the Presbyterian Church. The church building was
dedicated on November 15, 1895. The Ladies of St. Paul's Guild
(now the Episcopal Church Women) held their first meeting on September
19, 1895 at Mrs. Miller's residence in the Franklin location.
At that time, St. Paul's mission had 21 families, 59 baptized
members, 27 confirmed, and 24 church school students. Dr. W. E.
Corey was the first Senior Warden. The parish was served by visiting
clergymen until 1899, when the Reverend Louis L. Belden, the first
resident priest, was installed.
The first Communion Set was given in 1895 by Mrs. Miller, a sister
of Mrs. Bates (wife of Dr Bates). The set was later stolen and
replaced by St. Paul's Guild.
In 1904 the rectory was built and the bell tower was added sometime
between 1904 and 1905. The present baptismal font was given by
Mrs. W. H. Eaton in 1904. Improvements to the church and Guild
Hall were carried out in 1924, again in 1960-61, and in 1968-70.
On August 21, 1905, Miss Clara Ann Eddy married Mr. Charles Edward
Payne in St. Paul's. This was the first wedding in the church
and the Rev W. E. Morgan performed the service. Miss Eddy had
been St. Paul's organist.
In 1908 Mrs. Miller presented the brass altar cross in memory
of her parents, Dr & Mrs. Corey.
In 1909 a second organ was purchased by church members and friends.
Also that year a church bell was donated and first pealed on Easter
Sunday.
In 1913 William N. Miller donated a processional cross on his
tenth birthday.
In 1935, Mr. & Mrs. James Curtis donated the silver basin
in the baptismal font in memory of their son, Jim.
In 1944, St. Paul's, along with all the other congregations of
the Episcopal Diocese of Duluth, became part of the Episcopal
Diocese of Minnesota when both dioceses were joined together.
In 1970, St. Paul's celebrated its 75th
anniversary with a rededication ceremony on September 16, 1970.
The Anniversary Banquet was held on Saturday, September 19, 1970
at Miners' Memorial Building with the Rt. Rev. Philip F. McNairy,
Bishop Coadjutor of Minnesota as guest speaker. A Sunday morning
Eucharist (Communion Service) was celebrated with Bishop McNairy
presiding and all the Churches of the East Range participating.
The Eucharist was followed by a picnic in Olcott Park. On Wednesday,
September 23, 1970, former rectors of St. Paul's participated
in a potluck supper at Marquette School.
In 1995 St. Paul's celebrated its 100th
anniversary with a sung evensong (led by George Munig and Charles
Morello) on Saturday, August 5, 1995 and a festive Eucharist on
Sunday morning, August 6, 1995. The Eucharist was celebrated by
the Right Reverend Daniel Swenson, retired Bishop of Vermont and
former rector at St. Paul's. Musical offerings were provided by
the choir under the direction of Joie Swenson. Carol Morello,
Jeff & Kristen Weaver, Barb Perrella, and Gail Coon also provided
musical offerings. A banquet reception at the Elks' Club in Virginia
followed the festive Eucharist.
In 1997, during studies to renovate
the building, it was discovered that Cass Gilbert, Minnesota's
most renown architect, had designed the building. Research is
ongoing into more of these details. In 1998 a Restoration
and Renovation fundraising project was begun under leadership
of Marlene Munig. Under leadership of Stig Edwardson, the interior
of the Guild Hall was renovated and modernized.
In 1999, the old concrete front entrance was removed and work
begun on the new entrance. During the construction, the
kitchen was used for access to the Guild Hall and the Sanctuary.
During 2000, the old asbestos siding was removed and replaced
with new metal siding and red, wooden doors were installed at
the main entrance.
In 2001, new siding was placed
on the church and the congregation resumed use of the front entrance
as the main entrance. In May we received word that St. Paul's
had received a grant from United Thank Offering to pay
for a lift in the narthex to make the church handicapped accessible.
In November, the lift was installed. Earlier in November, an upgraded
3-basin kitchen sink was installed (to meet new code requirements),
the kitchen floor received a new linoleum cover and the Guild
Hall received a new carpet. After the installation of the
lift is approved by the City of Virginia, the narthex and stairs
were carpeted.
On December 9, 2001, there was a surprise farewell event for
the Rev Roger Weaver's retirement. Members of the congregations
he has served in the last 34 years and youth he had worked with
over those years attended a special service honoring Roger.
On January 1, 2002, Roger Weaver, the 22nd
priest to serve St. Paul's retired.
On May 1, 2003, the Rev Patricia Gillespie began her service
to the Lord as the 23rd priest to serve
St. Paul's. On August 27, 2006, following the desires of
St. John's to terminate the cluster covenant, St. Paul's voted
to move to Total
Ministry starting in January 2007. The Rev Patricia Gillespie's
service as rector ended on December 31, 2006.
After much prayer and work, on June 20, 2005, the new memorial
stained glass windows were installed above the door and across
the new bay window. The windows were dedicated on November 5,
2006.
On January 1, 2007, the six individuals
discerned for the Total Ministry leadership at St. Paul's began
their work together. The Rev. Douglas Morrison-Cleary was hired
as mentor and the team began working through the LifeCycles
program of the Diocese of Northern Michigan. In the Fall a seventh
individual was discerned to join the Total Ministry Team. The
Total Ministry Team continues to meet and to discern within St.
Paul's for additional members.
Some additional items of interest in the history of St. Paul's
Episcopal Church:
- The first church organ was purchased from Miss Hobhouse by
Archdeacon Appleby and Dr. W. E. Corey.
- The first church bible was given by Dr. & Mrs. Corey.
- The altar was a gift of Mr. Stuart Bates in memory of his
wife.
- Brass Candlesticks were a gift by Mrs. A Lerch in memory of
her husband, Edward Hitchcock.
- Eucharistic candlesticks were given by Mrs. Gandsey in memory
of her husband
Since 1895, 23
priests have served St. Paul's Episcopal Church. |
