Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church reflects the longstanding African American community in the Shingle Creek neighborhood. It is one of the earliest African American church congregations in the city.
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Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church reflects the longstanding African American community in the Shingle Creek neighborhood. It is one of the earliest African American church congregations in the city.
This building was originally a schoolhouse in rural Osseo, Minnesota. It was moved to 5201-5207 Dupont Avenue North in 1926 and became Hope Lutheran Church. In 1968, it was donated to Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church and moved to its current location. A wood ramp was added to the front around 2013.
The area where the church is now located was platted in 1913 by the Thorpe Brothers as the Maple Leaf Addition. By 1920, this area was home to a concentration of African American families. Many had migrated from southern states to Minnesota. They included formerly enslaved African Americans and/or their descendants. They were able to buy property here when housing covenants restricted African American homeownership elsewhere in the city. As a result, families stayed in the area for more years than renters typically did.
This congregation was established as Humboldt Baptist Mission Church in 1923 in the Shingle Creek neighborhood. This was the area’s second African American church. They first met in Elizabeth Stevens’ house at 5126 Irving Avenue North, who was one of the founders. In 1929, the church formally organized and bought this lot. From 1929 to 1943, they worshipped in a converted garage. In 1943, they built a larger one-room structure. By 1953, they wanted a new building. They were able to build a basement and put a roof over it, which they used until the current building was moved on site.
Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED)
Phone
Address
Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 320
Minneapolis, MN 55415
