St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
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Historical Church Ledgers Click link to see the ledger of your choice Baptisms 1856-1920 Marriages 1857-1918 Burried in St. Luke's Cemetery |
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Jan 7, 1855 by The Right Reverend Jackson Kemper, Episcopal Bishop of the entire Northwest Territories. “His kindness, friendliness, honesty and concern for souls won him many friends throughout the Territory. During his ministry Bishop Kemper organized eight dioceses: California, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin and founded three colleges. He also promoted mission work among the Potowatami, Seneca, Oneida and Huron Indians with whom he worked.”¹ 1856: The cornerstone of our original building² was laid May 6, by Bishop Kemper and it opened on November 16 with The Rev. E. P. Gray of Winona preaching. Both congregation and preacher sat on boards supported by nail kegs which served as seats in the unfinished building |
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1857: The original building was consecrated and the first offering totaled 25 cents. The Rev. Timothy Wilcoxson resided in Hastings by this time and held services here every other Sunday. He also his itinerant mission work was centered here and he walked to many other towns in the lower Minnesota valley including Point Douglas, Basswood Grove, Prescott, Cannon Falls, Red Wing, Faribault and Albert Lea. He spent 50% of his time in itinerant mission work and “during the first seven months of this itinerancy he had walked nearly two thousand miles and may be called the pioneer missionary of the Episcopal Church to the white population.” ³ |
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of the Minnesota Territory, worked to “guide the development of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, establish mission churches throughout the state and to provide proper treatment and justice for all the poor and most especially for the Native Americans. He made regular sojourns through the rural areas of the state, often in mid-winter, preaching in cabins, school houses, stores, saloons, and Indian villages. Until the diocese was financially secure, he pledged himself to personally support several of its missionary clergy and assumed many other financial obligations of the church.” He unified the diocese and while his work with native communities would be viewed as unjust in today’s world, he and Bishop Kemper were considered radical thinkers among their contemporaries, and Bishop Whipple become known as "Straight Tongue" to many nations. With the influence of both Bishop Kemper and Bishop Whipple, Episcopal congregations including St. Luke's welcomed all peoples to their worship services and the women of the church became active in mission work. Indian John, a friend to the settlers of Hastings, is buried in St. Luke's Cemetery. |
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1868: The original Altar Cross, candlesticks, vases and Communion Silver were given. The original Altar Cross is now in the window next to the sacristy. The other items are in the cabinet in the gathering space. 1869: Subscriptions were opened to pay for the Good Shepherd window on the east wall of the sanctuary. The church pews were also built and installed. The pews are built of Butternut wood and though the ends were remodeled in 1881, they are the same ones in use today. There were two small church pews and frontals located in the "tower room" chapel of the LeDuc Mansion* in Hastings that match our choir pews and frontals. Two of General LeDuc's daughters also taught Sunday school at St. Luke's and our historical records include many references to the family. 1880: Our first building was destroyed on Dec 27, 1880 when the candles ignited the Christmas tree during the Sunday school program. It was "a bitter cold night and the supply of ladders and water were scarce. From the onset no hopes were entertained of saving more than the furniture. The organ was hastily torn to pieces, and with the altar, pews, chandeliers, windows, etc., piled up promiscuously on the opposite side of the street. Willing hands were in abundance and the ladies worked hard to save the cherished ornaments which adorned the edifice. In this they were favored by the west wind and the fiery element worked slowly to the tower in front, the bell being about the last to fall in a shapeless mass to the ground.” Hastings Gazette, January 1, 1881. |
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1881: “The windows for the church arrived from New York and are now in their places. Many are plain enameled glass, with crimson or blue borders while others carry different symbols” [Hastings Gazette, April 1, 1881]. The Good Shepherd Window on the east wall is a triple lancet window, united by tracery under a single hood. Our records indicate that many people contributed to the cost and installation of the Good Shepherd window but individual subscribers’ names were not listed. Our young people’s records indicate that they contributed $250 toward the cost of the Good Shepherd Window. Our records are unclear on the specific cost of the windows but our new building cost a total of $7,759.50 and it remains our worship space today. 1882: The Young Ladies Guild presented the Bishop's Chair that was first used by Bishop Whipple when he confirmed a class in May of that year. |
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Other Dates of significance include:
1887 - The Eagle lectern was given.
1959 - A new parish hall was completed at the cost of $75,0001892 - The gas lamps in the church were replaced with electric lights. 1902 - The new pulpit was given by parishioners. 1906 “The Last Supper” etching was given in memory of Mary Lemen Johns. 1912 - The windows on each side of the front doors were placed in memory of Mr. & Mrs. Edward Vose. 1943 - The last mortgage was paid. 1945 - "Christ The King" carving was donated and placed above above the entrance to the chancel. 1968 - The pipe organ was installed 1969 - The chimes were given 1980 - The lounge in Todd Hall was completed 1987 - The original church pews were repaired and refinished 1990 - The sanctuary was remodeled with new flooring and new carpeting 1992 - Completion of new meeting/gathering space and elevator added. 1997 - Air conditioning installed for the sanctuary and gathering space 2002 - A sound system was installed in the sanctuary 2006 - The Sanctuary roof was replaced using cedar shingles. 2012 - The pastor's office and youth room were updated and remodeled. 2017 - New flooring was installed in the nursery and office areas. |
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