Park's Oldest Church Building - 3208 Xenwood
From the Re-Echo, March 2008

This large, perhaps Park’s oldest church building, has had many owners and uses over its 84-year lifespan. It was built by the First Lutheran Church. The group met at Fern Hill School (also called Lake Street School) in 1915, but had to move when the city made an addition to the school. At one time a tent was used for services. In 1922, a lot was purchased from T.B. Walker, and $110 was donated by Mrs. Walker, provided that certain lot was used. The address was 3208 Xenwood. (Formerly Rosslyn) at Lake Street.

The church basement was built in November of 1924. The congregation met there until the superstructure was completed in 1928, dedicated on October 14. It boasted a seating capacity of over 400 people – and a membership of 549 baptized persons. Reverend J. Lyle Halvorson began at the church in the 20's, and served until 1956. The building was enlarged around 1937. The house and lot adjacent to the church was purchased for a parsonage, but was converted to a Sunday school in 1959 – a tunnel was built between the two structures. In October 1959, a different house at 5814 W. Lake Street was purchased for the parsonage. In 1961, membership was approximately 600 with 200 in Sunday School. A new church building, located next to the new parsonage, was begun in early spring 1968.
 

The old building on Xenwood Ave. was sold to the Andahazy School of Ballet, which shared the old building with the church until the new one was completed in November 1968. The school occupied the building until at least 1987. In 1989 and 1990, Marius and Krisztina Anderhazy lived in the once and future first parsonage, 3212 Xenwood, which was next door and still connected by the tunnel built by First Lutheran.

Subsequent owners are unclear; City records show a Faith Tabernacle of Truth, although that name doesn't show up in the phone books. Harvest or World Harvest may have been the name in the early 1990s. The building lay vacant from 1995 to 1997.

In 1997, the church was purchased by the Macedonian Evangelical Missionary Baptist Church. Many of its approximately 50 members had previously attended Zion Baptist Church in Minneapolis. The church started with a meeting on March 6, 1997 at the Plymouth home of pastor Karl L. Darrisaw.




 

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.