PARK'S REAL OLDEST CHURCH BUILDING
From the Re-Echo, June 2008

In the March issue of the Re-Echo, we chronicled the life of the church building at 3208 Xenwood as the oldest church building in the Park. (not the oldest church – that is Union Congregational.) Alert member Lucille Thornsjo gently reminded us of Brookside Church (now St. Dunstan’s), on Brookside Avenue. Of course! Here is its history.

Brookside Community Church (Methodist Episcopal) was built at 4241 Brookside Avenue in 1915. Members had first met in a cottage and opened a Sunday school in 1913. The 24' by 40' building was enlarged in 1927 and 1934.

In 1946, Brookside Church merged with the Methodist Meeting House, and the combined church was renamed Aldersgate. In 1949, part of the Baston farm was purchased for $6,500 for a new church at 3801 Wooddale.

In 1950, the original Brookside church building became the First Church of Christ Scientist of St. Louis Park. Due to dwindling membership, Christmas Day 1988, was the last day of services.

On March 12, 1989, 84 members dedicated Anglican Church of St. Dunstan. The congregation had been meeting in the Edina-Morningside Community Congregational Church and purchased the small building.


 

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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.