Virginia Street Swedenborgian Church

Historical Information about the Virginia Street Swedenborgian Church

The story of the Virginia Street Swedenborgian Church begins with the formation of the first Swedenbogian group in the state in 1860 under the leadership of William R. Marshall. the members disbanded when Marshall was called to serve his state, first as Lt. Colonel in the Minnesota reserves and then as Governor.  The group was not reactivated until 1873 when the present society (known originally as the Saint Paul Society of the New Jerusalem Church) was organized with Marshall as president and the Rev. Edward Craig Mitchell as pastor.

Built in 1886, the church was designed by Cass Gilbert, the famous architect of the Minnesota State Capitol building, other local churches, and the Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C.  The church building is included in the Minnesota Historical Society's Inventory of Historical Properties.

Gilbert designed the church building to reflect one of the basic tenets of the Swedenborgian faith which describes correspondences between the spiritual and natural worlds.  For example, the stone foundation represents the solidity of an enduring faith in Jesus Christ, the Divine/Human who as God Incarnate is Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier.

The interior of the church remains much the same as when it was built, with soft terra-cotta painted walls and wainscoting of pine.  Polished ash pews are bordered on each side by lead glass windows from which a warm amber glow is cast, creating a serene atmosphere for worship.  A sense of spiritual harmony is achieved through architectural line, simple yet elegant, offering a meditative environment and reflecting the assurance that the Lord Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life.  The memorial stained glass windows in the narthex guide one's eye to the imposing focal figure of John on the Isle of Patmos.

The pipe organ was given in 1919 by William H. Fobes, long a volunteer organist, in memory of his mother, Elizabeth.  In 1922, a parish house was added to the east end of the original building.  Designed by Clarence Johnston, it harmonizes with the Gilbert design.  The addition was the gift of one of the original members, Edward H. Cutler, in memory of his wife and daughter.