The focus of this guide is on religion, faith, and spirituality in South Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Religion has long played a part in the history of South Saint Paul. The Dakota people, who inhabited the region before the white people came, had a religion of their own, of course, but the only historical record we have of that is in the massive burial mounds that were found along the bluffs above the Mississippi River, in the area that is now at the center of town, and on top of the hills leading to the city's southern border
Wakinyantanka, the Mdewakanton Dakota chief of the band of Native Americans who resided in what was then known as the village of Kaposia, invited Methodist missionaries to the village in 1837. Although he withdrew his support for the missionaries a few years later, another chief, Little Crow V, invited Presbyterian missionaries to the village.
After the Dakotas are forced to move on, the village of Kaposia became the city of South Saint Paul, and the stockyards moved in, the city's population was one of immigrants.
Even more so than its schools, the churches of South Saint Paul were an important part of defining neighborhoods. The congregations of Saint Sava, Saint Stefan, and Holy Trinity helped to characterize the Roosevelt neighborhood, and Clark Memorial was the focus of South Park's religious community. Despite a reputation for being a rough town, there was an expectation that everyone would be in church on Sunday, and most businesses were closed on the Sabbath.
Clark Memorial United Church of Christ, Concordia Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Saint John Vianney Catholic Church, Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, and Saint Stefan Romanian Orthodox Church are still located in South Saint Paul, while the Saint Paulus German Lutheran Church and Trinity Norwegian Lutheran Church joined to form Luther Memorial Church.
Bethesda Lutheran Church, First Calvary Baptist Church, and South Saint Paul Assembly of God Church have moved to Inver Grove Heights, and Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church is now located in Sunfish Lake. The First United Methodist Church closed in 2011.
The Celestial Church of Christ now occupies the building vacated by Bethesda Lutheran Church, the South Saint Paul Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church is meeting in the former First United Methodist Church building, Saint Mary's Coptic Orthodox Church owns the former First Calvary Baptist Church building, and Asamblea Apostolica de la Fe en Cristo Jesus now owns the building once belonging to Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church.
Websites representing these and any other places of worship in South Saint Paul, Minnesota are appropriate for this category. Any site whose focus is on faith, religion, or spirituality in South Saint Paul may be submitted to this category. Of course, those that have moved to neighboring communities should be submitted to the category representing the city they are currently located in.
Recommended Resources
Clark-Grace United Church of Christ
Clark-Grace UCC is a result of the merger of a traditionally black and a traditionally white congregation. The open and affirming congregation serves the South Saint Paul, Minnesota community, with regular Sunday services and other programs, whose schedules are published here, along with a calendar of events, an overview of its ministries, a history of the church, photos, and leadership contacts.
https://clarkgraceucc.org/
Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), the congregation has served the South Saint Paul, Minnesota community since 1893. Its history and an overview of what it means to be a Presbyterian are presented, with an overview of the facilities, partnerships, schedules, a calendar of programs and events, and what to expect on a visit to the church. Office hours and contacts are posted to the site.
http://www.fpcssp.org/
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
Meeting at its facilities on 8th Avenue South, the South Saint Paul, Minnesota congregation is affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Practicing a liturgical form of worship, the church’s worship services are outlined, along with a leadership directory, pastor’s updates, service schedule, and a calendar of events. Other resources include a photo gallery, map, directions, and a church newsletter.
http://www.grace-ssp.org/
Representing Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Saint Augustine Catholic Church, and Holy Trinity Catholic School, all in South Saint Paul, Minnesota, the churches and school are highlighted, including schedules, a program calendar, directions, and contacts. Its religious education program, adult faith formation, and confirmation programs are discussed, along with the Council of Catholic Women, Fatima Cadets, Holy Name Society, and Ladies Guild.
http://www.holytrinitysspmn.org/
Offering two worship services a week, one on Sunday morning and the other on Wednesday evening, the South Saint Paul, Minnesota congregation is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Directions, service times, schedules, and a staff directory are featured, with an overview of its ministries, photo gallery, pastor’s blog, church newsletter, and a description of its child care programs.
http://www.luther-memorial.com/
Founded in 1946, the South Saint Paul, Minnesota congregation meets at its facilities on 17th Avenue North. Its membership policies, staff contacts, mass and sacrament schedules, and policies for baptisms, penance, and reconciliation, confirmation, first Eucharist, marriage, anointing of the sick, and marriage are outlined, along with its religious instruction programs, faith formation, and announcements.
http://sjvssp.org/
Saint Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church
The South Saint Paul, Minnesota congregation began with ten University of Minnesota Coptic graduate students who, along with their families, gathered each week for worship and prayer. A history and overview of the church are given, along with a description of Coptic Orthodoxy, service schedules, and its age-specific ministries and programs, a calendar of events, and live streaming of services.
https://www.stmarymn.org/
Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church
The congregation was organized in 1950 to serve the needs of Serbian immigrants in South Saint Paul, Minnesota, and construction began on its church building the following year. A parish history, description of its services, and the facilities are put forth, along with a service schedule, and calendar of events. The church’s clergy and patron saint are identified, and its ministries and associated organizations are introduced.
http://www.stsavamn.org/
Saint Stefan Romanian Orthodox Church
Saint Stefan was created by the Brotherhood Society Alexandru cel Bun, which later became the National Romanian Club, in 1923. Its history, service schedules, and a calendar of events are published to the site, along with a gallery of photographs, and prayer requests. Its priest, parish council, and ladies auxiliary are introduced. Church bulletins, news, and announcements are published to the site.
https://sfantulstefan.org/
