The Oldest Church In Minnesota Dates Back To The 1800s And You Need To See It
By now we’ve established that, though Minnesota has only been a state since 1858, its history extends much further back. We have ruins, restaurants, and more that date back to well before the Land of 10,000 Lakes joined the union. Let’s add another item to the list: Minnesota’s oldest church dates back to 18 years before statehood! Read on to learn about St. Peter’s Church in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
St. Peter’s church is located in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, about 15 miles southeast of Minneapolis. The church is located at 1405 Sibley Memorial Hwy., St. Paul, MN 55150.
On April 20, 1840, Father Lucien Galtier set out for Minnesota. The young priest began a small chapel from his bedroom at the home of a government official called Scott Campbell.
The next year, a small log chapel was built in its place. Newly arrived settlers were among the first congregants. Later versions of the chapel were destroyed until, in 1842, the current church was built.
From the outside, the church’s history is evident. The bricks date back more than 150 years. The tall steeple helps the church stand tall over Mendota Heights.
Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at brathburn@onlyinyourstate.com or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.
