St. Paul's Has Long History St. Paul's Episcopal church had its beginning in 1870, when Dr. S. W. Thayer conducted the first religious service in the new settlement of Brainerd.
No formal church organization existed in Brainerd at that time, but churchmen met and formed a building committee consisting of Dr. Thayer, C. T. Hobart, G. P. Lee, E. C. Wennie and Thomas L. Rosser. Their work resulted in a subscription of $4,111.48, enough to build a small church. That first little wooden church was designed by the Rev. I. H. Hopkins, D. D., son of the Bishop of Vermont.
While the building was not completed until 1872, the first service occurred on Nov. 15. 1871. conducted by the Rev. A. B. Patterson of St. Paul. It was the solemnization of the marriage of Thomas Shoaff and Ella Lytle. Shavings left by the carpenters had to be removed before the marriage service and a locomotive headlight brought in to provide illumination.
This wedding, being the first service held in the church, determines the time of parish anniversaries. In the present church, it is commemorated by a stained-glass window honoring Christian marriage by showing the Lord at the wedding in Cana of Galilee.
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+ Father Pierz records that traders did all possible to retard and place obstacles in the way of missionaries. The reason was to retard training of Indians in agriculture thus keeping the Indians at hunting and trapping for livlihood.
+ In 1872, Rev. J. A. Gilfillan became a missionary at Brainerd. On Sunday evenings he would often make the rounds of saloons, hotels and boarding houses to invite inmates to church.
+ Rev. J. A. Gilfillan, first minister in Brainerd, recorded, "The Indian never swore -- there is no oath in his language. If he became drunk and resorted to profanity, he had to betake himself to English."
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The Rev. J. A. Gilfillan moved to Brainerd in 1872, and began regular services in the completed church. In December of that year, the Lake Superior and Puget Sound company deeded the land on which the church was erected to Henry B. Whip- ple, Bishop of Minnesota. Later, the bishop transferred the property to the Minnesota Church foundation, and subsequently it was deeded to the parish.
On Aug. 28, 1872, the first parish meeting was held with St. Paul selected as the patron. Articles of incorporation were filed in 1896.
Bishop Whipple consecrated the church on May 18, 1873, and also administered confirmation to 42 candidates from Brainerd and nearby towns. That same year, the parish was admitted into the Diocese of Minnesota.
When Rev. Gilfillan left the parish to take charge of the Indian work on the White Earth Reservation, he was succeeded by the Rev. Frank R. Millspaugh. Both he and Rev. Gilfillan ministered in other towns as well as in Brainerd. Later, Rev. Millspaugh became Bishop of Kansas.
In 1876, a parishioner purchased the building which had housed the first office of the railroad, and moved it to the church property for use as a guild hall. It contained a large square piano.
By 1877, pioneer days ended, and with the coming of the Rev. Herbert Root, St. Paul's settled down to normal parish life. A small house was bought and moved to church property; it b e c a m e the first rectory. In 1896, the parish celebrated its 25th anniversary.
In 1901, the old rectory was razed, and a large new one erected, at a cost of $2,743.39. It was apparent by 1917. that a new church must also be built, so a building fund was begun. Prior to the razing of the original church in 1922. the parish observed its 50th anniversary.
Plans for a new church matured: work began on the basement only, this to serve until it was possible to finish the superstructure. The parish was allowed to use the YMCA building until it was able to move into the basement for the Christmas service in 1922. The cost of this part of the church was $12,000.
The Rev. Charles M. Brandon became rector in 1929; his coming began the present period of the history of St. Paul's. Bids for the construction of the superstructure were accepted in 1930. Designed by W. L. Albans of St. Paul, the building was of Gothic style, the structure of granite, trimmed with Indiana limestone.
On Sunday, Sept. 21, 1930, the cornerstone was laid: on Jan. 25, 1931, the first service was held. At the time of dedication the church was valued at $42,500.
Soon after the erection of the building Rev. Brandon began a stained-glass window program; early in 1945, the last of the nave windows were completed.
In 1936, the Rev. Father Edward G. Barrow arrived. He was the 22nd priest to serve St. Paul's, and has been the rector since that date, making his tenure the longest in parish history. Under his leadership, the church mortgage was liquidated in 1945.
In 1939. the rectory built in 1901) was sold, and a new one built. In 1946. an addition was built onto the church, appreciably enlarging the sacristry. Extensive alterations were made to the basement which serves as the parish hall. On Nov. 3, 1946. St. Paul's was consecrated by the Right Rev. Stephen E. Keeler, Bishop of the Diocese of Minnesota.
A parish Endowment Fund was begun in 1949; numerous bequests have been made to this fund, and it now totals $108,000. The income from this amount is used to maintain the church property, now valued at $300,000.
In 1956, the parish celebrated the 25th ordination anniversary of Rev. Barrow.
Reproduced from the Centennial Edition of the Brainerd Daily Dispatch (1871-1971).
