One Hundred Years of Ministry
THUS SAYS THE LORD... "I have called you
by your name, you are mine...
Because you are precious in my sight and honored,
I love you."
Wartburg Congregation Begins
THE SEMINARY STORY
St. Anthony Park Lutheran (formerly Wartburg Evangelical Lutheran Congregation) grew directly out
of the United Church Seminary (until recently named Luther Theological Seminary, but now Luther
Seminary). But the United Church Seminary did not just spring out of the earth in 1902 on a beautiful
wooded site on Como Avenue in St. Anthony Park in the city of St. Paul. Considerable controversy and
litigation went into that seminary's birthing.
During the 1880s, various committees of Norwegian church groups had been discussing and making
plans for a merger. Finally, in 1890, three groups of Norwegian Lutherans met at Trinity Lutheran Church
near downtown Minneapolis to make the merger official. On June 13, 1890, this assembly of delegates from
the Conference for the Norwegian-Danish Lutheran Church of America, the Norwegian Augustana Synod
and the Anti-Missourian Brotherhood (a group which had withdrawn from the Norwegian Synod because of
controversy over "election" vs. conversion) officially formed the United Norwegian Lutheran Church in
America, commonly known as the United Church. The Hauge Synod had participated in the early
discussions, but had withdrawn by this time.
Augsburg Seminary in Minneapolis had been operated by the Conference. Part of the 1890 merger
agreement was that the ownership of Augsburg Seminary would be transferred to the United Church. There
were legal and other impediments that caused Augsburg Seminary's Board of Trustees to refuse to transfer
the title of the seminary to the United Church. Therefore, in 1893, the United Church established its own
seminary on a temporary basis. Three theological professors, Marcus O. Bøckman, Friederich A. Schmidt
and Emil G. Lund and some students transferred to this new United Church Seminary.
THE SEMINARY MOVES
The legal battle over the fate of Augsburg Seminary ended in 1898. The Augsburg Seminary property
was not transferred to the United Church; leaders of that body then made a decision to build a permanent
seminary campus somewhere else in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. North St. Anthony Park, an area
recently added to the city of St. Paul, was chosen.
St. Anthony Park was being promoted heavily for development. The original mapping and platting of
the area, aiming for large country estates, began in 1873. The promoters were not very successful. The area
was replatted in 1885 with smaller lots and was replatted again a few years later.
A prime reason for lack of property sales was an inadequate transportation system. Both the Great
Northern and the Northern Pacific Railroads had depots for commuter trains in South St. Anthony Park. But
they were too far away for most commuters to live in North St. Anthony Park. In July of 1898, an inter-
urban streetcar line was opened along Como Avenue, though only about two or three dozen homes had been
built in the area.
The University of Minnesota College of Agriculture held its first class on its St. Paul campus east of the
later seminary site in 1869. In 1888, the School of Agriculture opened there too, serving high school age
students. These educational entities, along with construction of the streetcar line and the establishment of
the seminary, caused North St. Anthony Park to become a development hot spot.
Construction began on the first building on the seminary campus in 1900. This main building later
came to be known as Berckman Hall. The building contained classrooms, offices, living and dormitory
spaces, and a beautiful large two-story chapel with a balcony. The building was finished and occupied in
January 1902. Professors Bøckman, Schmidt and Lund came to the new seminary campus, as well as
Professor Erik K. Johnsen, who joined the seminary faculty in 1900.
A CHURCH WITHIN THE SEMINARY
The new seminary was located quite a distance from any other Norwegian Lutheran congregation,
especially from Bethlehem congregation where most of the seminary staff were then members. For this
reason they decided to form their own congregation at United Church Seminary.
On Friday, November 28, 1902, the day after Thanksgiving, the faculty, their familie, and the students
of United Church Seminary assembled. They formally passed a resolution, "that it has now been found
necessary to organize a congregation." They expected that most of the professors "will no doubt leave
Bethlehem [Lutheran Church] and join the new one." They named themselves Wartburg Lutheran
Congregation. Dr. Bøckman was elected president of the congregation, Professor Johnsen was made
secretary and student Olaf Lysnes, treasurer.
The charter members of the congregation were Dr. M.O. Bøckman and his wife and family, Dr. E.K.
Johnsen and his wife and family, Dr. E.G. Lund, and 20 students. Dr. Bøckman was named the pastor. Until
February 1938, the congregation was served by ordained clergymen who were professors at the seminary.
Five professor pastors served Wartburg congregation. These pastors were: Dr. M.O. Bøckman, 1902-1915;
Dr. J.N. Kildahl, 1915-1920; Dr. C.M. Weswig, 1920-1937; Dr. M.J. Stolee, 1930-1931; Dr. M.O. Wee,
1937-1938.
The board of the United Church that directed the affairs of the seminary gave Wartburg congregation
free use of the chapel for its services, as well as some space in the basement for its religious education
program. The board further allowed one of the seminary professors to serve as the preaching pastor.
Because this position was in addition to his teaching responsibility, that person had no obligation to do
other pastoral work and received no additional salary. The congregation participated in the maintenance of
the chapel and the education rooms.
The first church service of the new congregation was conducted on the First Sunday in Advent 1902.
Sunday church services were held during the school year and ceased during the summer months. This
schedule lasted until 1915, when Dr. J.N. Kildahl was named pastor. He started conducting summer
services. Pastor Kildahl died in the year 1920 and was succeeded by Dr. C.M. Weswig, who served until
1937, except for a leave in 1930 and 1931, during which Dr. M.J. Stolee served.
In 1902 there had been 27 members. By 1930, congregational membership had risen to 125. In 1905,
the congregation adopted a constitution, printed in Norwegian. It governed the affairs of the congregation
until the early 1930s. [The original constitution is available for research at the ELCA Region 3 Archives at
Luther Seminary.]
The Ladies Aid Society was organized in 1906 and has functioned continually since then under different
names. In 1927 there were 50 members. There were three other societies organized for various constituents:
The Daughters of the Reformation, the Men's Club and the Luther League. Another important part of the
congregation's life was the choir.
One of the rationales the United Church had for the assistance it gave to Wartburg congregation was
that the congregation would perform home mission services. The synod was especially interested in
Lutheran students attending the agricultural schools east of the seminary. The congregation ministered to
the needs of the students as much as it could. Many of those students were quite young, so it is likely they
welcomed this ministry.
During this period, the St. Anthony Park neighborhood grew considerably. Over time, Lutheran
families began to make their homes in St. Anthony Park. The congregation began to change its character
from being essentially a seminary congregation to a community congregation as some local residents began
to participate in the activities of the congregation.
Some points of friction developed between Luther Seminary (until 1917, United Seminary) and
Wartburg congregation. Many of these were small and unspoken, but nevertheless a problem. The "rent"
question illustrates one of these problems. In January of 1933, the Board of Education of the Norwegian
Lutheran Church in America asked the congregation to start paying rent. The strong protest of the
congregation to the Board of Education was submitted late in the month.
See "To the Board of Trustees of the N.L.C.A">.
The congregation began to discuss the possibilities of operating independently of the seminary. These
discussions included a name change, purchase of a parish house, calling of a full-time pastor and
establishment of a building committee.
Wartburg Congregation Steps Out
In the 1930s, Wartburg congregation decided to step out and become a community church rather than a
"seminary congregation." By 1935, membership had grown to 146. Although a large part of the
congregation remained seminary faculty and students, the number from the community was increasing.
There were several factors, however, that made it difficult to attract members in the community. The
congregation used Norwegian in its worship services and the services were conducted in the seminary
chapel. This likely discouraged others from attending. Third, the congregation did not have a pastor to do
pastoral work in the congregation and the community.
In 1931, the language used in worship services was changed from Norwegian to English. Some
devotional meetings and special services continued to be conducted in the Norwegian language for a period
of time.
The building of a church home separate from the seminary became a priority. A building committee
was established in 1931. Despite the Depression, the congregation established a building fund and was able
to raise a total of $1251.15. In 1932, Pastor Weswig wrote: "Let us have as much faith as those who plant
seeds to raise trees. They think of the next generation."
At a congregational meeting on May 25, 1937, the congregation voted to rename itself St. Anthony Park
Lutheran Church. Also in 1937, the congregation, with assistance from the Norwegian Lutheran Church in
America [NLCA] purchased the Strickler house, located on Luther Place, for use as a parish hall and
pastor's residence.
The congregation received a grant from the Home Missions Committee of the NLCA so that it could
work with Lutheran students at the University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus.
The congregation had increased to 218 members and decided to call a full-time pastor. On August 26,
1937, a call was sent to the Rev. James M. Langemo asking him to become the full-time pastor of St.
Anthony Park Lutheran Church. He accepted the call and on February 13,1938, began his ministry with the
congregation. Church membership had then grown to 326.
St. Anthony Park Church Builds
From 1926 to April 9, 1937, the Strickler lots (those on which the church would eventually be built)
were owned by the Baker Land and Title Company. On that 1937 date, Andrew Presthus and his wife
(members of the congregation) became the owners. Three weeks later, the land was purchased from them by
the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America [NLCA]. The NLCA owned the land until September 11, 1944,
when St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church purchased it.
Following World War II, the congregation returned to its plans to construct its own church building. A
new building committee had been appointed in 1944, under the leadership of Oscar Lee, to make specific
plans. Two of the original members of the committee were closely connected to the seminary: Dr. Herman
Preus, professor, and Dr. T.F. Gullixson, president.
A goal of $150,000 was set for the new building. In January 1947 the firm of Hills, Gilbertson and Hays
of Minneapolis was retained to design the building.
A total of $50,000 was raised in cash and pledges, but more was needed. After efforts by several from
the congregation,the ELC made a $30,000 grant to the congregation for the ministry it was providing to the
seminary and the congregation received a $20,000 non-interest loan from the Lutheran Student Association
(LSA) for the ministry the congregation provided to Lutheran students on the St. Paul campus of the
University.
The congregation was dealt a hard blow in September 1947 when the low bid for the project was
$230,000, 80% over the anticipated available funds. The building committee and the architects reduced the
size of almost all aspects of the planned building, the most significant being the elimination of a basement.
The land had once been a gully, but had been filled in the 1930s, partly from the excavation needed to
expand Murray school. It turned out that the soil was unstable so the construction of a basement became
excessively costly. A second floor to the new Parish House (attached to the sanctuary) was also eliminated.
A bell tower on the Luther Place and Come corner of the building had been considered but it too was
eliminated. With these and several other changes, the project cost was reduced to $160,000 and
construction was ready to begin.
The construction contract was awarded to Dean L. Wichter Company of Minneapolis. Ground was
broken on April 25, 1948, and the cornerstone was laid June 13, 1948. A Bible, Luther's Catechism, The
Lutheran Hymnary, the 1948 congregation church book, St. Paul and Minneapolis newspapers and other
items were placed in the cornerstone.
The first service was held on March 20, 1949. The church was dedicated on June 19, 1949, by Dr. J.A.
Aasgaard, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. At the time, the congregation had 600 members.
A parsonage was built the following year at 2258 Luther Place on the lot next to the new Pariah House
and the pastor moved in on December 23, 1950. The cost of the parsonage was $20,000.
Saint Anthony Park Lutheran expands with the times.
By 1952 membership of the congregation had grown to 831 and by 1954 it was over 1000. As an
example of this exponential growth, note that on Sunday, November 8, 1959, 112 new members were
received.
Because of the cutbacks in the original building program, the church started its ministry in the new
building with an immediate space shortage. By 1954 the congregation began planning an expansion of
facilities. This project, led by Joe Skovholt, was completed in 1956 and dedicated on May 13 of that year.
This expansion included the completion of a second story on the Parish Hall, expansion of the downstairs
meeting area with a stage, a back stairway and new kitchen. The original kitchen was where the serving
room is presently located.
In the 1960s church membership and attendance continued to grow to the point where a third Sunday
worship service was added. This growth obviously put pressure on the existing facilities and plans were
developed for a new church sanctuary In 1962 an 11-member long range planning committee was appointed
to study the growth needs of the congregation. It concluded that no attempt be made to meet future growth
through modification of the existing building.
A building committee with Elmer Andersen as chairperson was appointed in 1964. Its report in 1965
recommended that a new sanctuary be constructed on church and seminary land, moving Luther Place north
to align with Valentine Ave.
On January 17, 1966, the congregation voted to proceed with final planning for this project. The cost of
the total project was estimated at $600,000. At this point, over $190,000 had been raised through
contributions and pledges.
However on August 8, 1967, construction bids were opened and the congregation learned that the low
bid for constructing the building was $698,000; the congregation had budgeted $430,000. There were
discussions with the seminary about the possibility of the seminary contributing to the project and using the
sanctuary jointly with the congregation. After consideration, the seminary decided not to pursue the
proposal.
By 1968, church membership had reached 1,640 members (a 13% increase from 1,450 in 1964) and the
congregation approved planning for an alternate approach to building a new sanctuary, to be located on land
now occupied by the Luther Place condominiums. On Feb. 17, 1970, this project costing $741,700, was
presented to the congregation for approval. The motion to proceed received 59% of the votes cast; 67% was
required.
With the defeat of the project, the building committee resigned and the congregation began a struggle
as to how to proceed with its ministry.
Physical space problems remained. After a brief pause, another planning effort was launched. Ultimately, a
proposal to renovate the existing building was presented to the congregation September 4, 1974. The
congregation, demonstrating near-consensus agreement, approved the project by a vote of 135-15. Cost of
the project was $375,000. It included renovation of the sanctuary, including cathedral chairs instead of the
pews, a new narthex and Fireside Room, some new education space above and a modest increase in office
space. Congregation member Dick Schoen was the architect for this renovation.
In the mid-1980s the congregation unexpectedly received a significant estate gift, which it used to re-
roof the sanctuary and make some other needed improvements. The congregation undertook another
renovation in 1993 that included upgrading the kitchen, replacing the furnace and boiler and locating the
nursery near the Como Ave. end of the building. Bob Hoyle oversaw those renovations.
Still another renovation effort was launched in 1999. costing slightly more than $1.3 million. The
project was led by Glen Skovholt and Ann Stout. It included: significant new office space, building a tower
over the center of the sanctuary to provide more natural light for worship services and to make the church
more visible to the community, and relocating the organ. Stained glass windows, financed separately
through gifts, were also installed.