About Us / History

History: Wedding Chapel: Outreach Activities: Labyrinth: Our History:

Episcopal Church of The Advent Farmington, Minnesota 55024

The Beginning:

1861

Episcopal clergy establish a preaching circuit across central

Dakota County, which included Lakeville, where Daniel Thurston and sons

John and Sumner had taken up homesteads in 1855.

The Thurstons became ardent supporters, with the first recorded service being in

Daniel Thurston's residence.

1867

By this year, Bishop Henry B. Whipple and other clergy were holding

occasional services in Farmington and Episcopalian families began to talk

"parish" and "building".

1871

July 24th Formation of a parish: The Church of the Advent.

August 12th Articles of Incorporation filed with the State of Minnesota.

September John H. Thurston, Clerk of the Vestry, began collecting subscriptions for a

building.

October 20th

Lots 2 and 3, Block 12, were purchased for $100 from

Selah and Arabella Chamberlain of Cleveland, Ohio.

November

Construction began of a 18' x 30' frame chapel with 10' x 12' chancel on a

prairie stone foundation.

Thurston supervised the volunteer labor that crafted the structure and

much of its furnishings.

Window frames, doors, and pew ends were ordered from a Minneapolis planing mill.

Heating was provided by a flat-fronted iron stove. Lighting was by kerosene oil lamps.

November 25th

Thurston ordered two memorial windows and one chancel (altar) window.

February 18, 1872

First service conducted by the Rev'd Charles Rollit, Missionary-in-Charge.

June 27, 1873

The chapel, being debt free, was consecrated by

Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple in Farmington and the bell was hung in the belfry

(the first bell in Farmington, Minnesota).

July 1873

The bell arrived--the first in Farmington--and was hung in the belfry.

1882

Young ladies from Rosemount held an ice cream social at Crystal Lake and

netted $80 to purchase a reed pump organ.

1907

The Rev'd Doctor W. P. TenBroeck, professor at Seabury Divinity School in

Faribault and part-time rector of the parish, led efforts to construct a

44' x 18' Guild Hall, which incorporated the small vesting room of 1871.

It provided a 8' x 18' vestry room in which TenBroeck could stay overnight, and a

38' x 18' room to be used for Sunday school and Ladies' Guild activities.

1914

Chapel and Guild Hall were wired for electric lights.

1916

The original Gothic chancel window was replaced by a round stained glass window.

The latter was given in memory of Dr. TenBroeck, who had died in 1913 after

51 years in the priesthood.

1924-1930

Decline in church membership due to closing of railroad yards and removal of many

families led to the ceasing of regular Episcopal services.

The property was maintained by surviving families and rented by Lutherans who

eventually became Farmington Lutheran Church.

June 27, 1933

A congregation, revitalized by a number of new families, was led by

Bishops McElwain and Keeler in a 60th anniversary celebration of the

Consecration of the chapel and its reopening.

1960

The church was rewired for side-lights and chandeliers by the A. C. Smith family.

1961-1962

Major renovations undertaken: replacement of the west wall of the chancel;

removal of the oil heater in the chapel with a gas furnace installed in the Guild Hall;

removal of the partition between sacristy/vestry and meeting rooms,

paneling the walls, and lowering the ceiling.

The enlarged room was dedicated the Griebie Room after the pioneer family

which had provided several generations of faithful members.

1971

Creating of a Century Fund to enable major repairs to the roof, belfry, and foundation.

1972

Jerome Beisel of Hampton, experienced in restoring 19th century buildings,

was contracted to make repairs.

He had just taken down a vintage pine barn, which provided some lumber to replace

rotted roof timbers.

Iron brackets and tie rods were installed to strangthen the rafters.

The belfry was rebuilt as a memorial to Jessie Briebie Paulette by her children.

1973-1975

July 27th Bishop Kellogg officiated at the Consecration anniversary service.

Earlier that month, younger people of the congregation had excavated by hand for a

new foundation.

During the summer, water and sewer were brought into the building, and the

Griebie Room was remodeled to provide space for a kitchen and lavatory.

Plans for a 25' x 50' parish hall had been drawn up by architect Michael Sly,

a member of the congregation.

When he and his wife died in an automobile accident, Sly's firm of

Stegner, Hendrikson, McNutt & Sullivan gave architectural oversight to its

construction to contractor Emery Hall.

July 27th, 1976

Dedication by the Rector, Richard K. Smith, and October 26th consecration by

Bishop McNairy of the Michael and Lisbeth Sly Room, to be used for education and

fellowship, and now providing space for worship.

1980-1982

Increased membership and activity led to the addition of two rooms behind the

Griebie Room to provide for a preschool/nursery and an office.

2007

Construction of the labyrinth has begun.

Renovation is underway to restore the steeple, roof, and stained glass in the

historic chapel, which is listed in the National Historic Register.

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Memorial Stained Glass Windows

Windows Above The Alter
[IMAGE]

The Rev'd William P. Ten Broeck, DD.

East Wall

[IMAGE]

1859 - 1870

Mary Lousie Thurston - Pioneer Child d. 1869

[IMAGE]

1836 - 1895

Helen M. Crosby of Hastings - Young Pioneer Mother,

[IMAGE]

Elisha Smith Thomas -

Seabury Divinity School - Second Bishop of Kansas

West Wall

[IMAGE]

1810 - 1885

The Rev'd Charles Rollit - First Missionary - in - Charge

[IMAGE]

1846 - 1886

Maria S. Underwood - Pioneer Wife

[IMAGE]

1832- 1902

John Henry Thurston - Founder / Builder

Donations and / or Volunteers are welcome.