Park History Series Part 2

Park Avenue UMC has stood at the corner of Park and 34th for 132 years—a testament to enduring faith and community.  In the first installment of this occasional history series, I wrote about our founding in 1893 in the back of a drugstore and the construction and expansion of our first building - a quaint wooden church.  As we conclude our annual stewardship campaign, it seems appropriate to share insights into our early financial footings.   

The church was built on two city lots, costing $ 3,000.  Other city churches contributed $1000, and the remaining amount was financed through a mortgage—a heavy burden for the small congregation.  In 1900, Hennepin Avenue UMC, through the Methodist City Missionary and Church Extension Society, paid off the debt on our behalf.  On a Sunday morning, the mortgage was burned at the altar with newly appointed Pastor George G. Vallentyne and the Board of Trustees gathered around. The historical record notes, “there was great rejoicing.”   

Pastor Vallentyne (who served at Park for 42 years!) was a fiscally conservative leader.  In January 1904, the church adopted a new financial plan under which money was to be raised only through direct appeals to people, not through bazaars, dinners, or solicitations to other congregations. 

The report says that “people were urged to tithe their incomes with the result that great blessing was poured out upon both the givers and the church.”   

In addition to his dislike of fundraising events, Pastor Vallentyne also disliked borrowing money.  This attitude shaped the church enough that construction of a new brick church, with seating capacity for 600, began in 1909, but came to a screeching halt in 1911 when they ran out of money! 

Did they stick to their guns?  Where did they worship during all that construction?  What did that brick church look like?  For answers to these burning questions, watch for the next installment of our Park Avenue Church history series! 

In Community, 

Carla Urban