About Us
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church is empowered by the Holy Spirit in our Lord’s mission to seek
and save the lost. We are a diverse, family oriented church with members sharing a deep
appreciation for the world wide Anglican Communion. Many members of our church are
immigrants from Africa where they experienced trauma, fear, and uncertainty firsthand. Other
parishioners include Antiguans, Ukrainians, British and Americans. So, our parishioners hold a
unique resolve to minister to the “least of these” (Matt 25:40) born of personal experience with a
real and saving Lord.
We also share the love of Jesus to those families and singles in our community of North
Minneapolis who are made desperate by poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, crime, or ill health. All
of our clergy are experienced pastoral counseling professionals. Our laities are encouraged to
pray and minister as a witness in daily life and some are certified as Eucharistic ministers.
Episcopal Church Women (ECW) and Episcopal Church Men (ECM) provide stability to our
outreach program by regular events focused on prayer and a welcoming fellowship. Our annual
International Day features great food from West Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and America
respectively.
The youth of our parish are active in worship and meet regularly for discussion and fun
activities. We participate in Diocesan retreats and get together with a team of experienced and
devoted youth advisors. Sunday-school provides a nationally recognized Episcopal curriculum
that is a Bible based learning experience for children of all ages. Our teachers are well
organized and support the children with a healthy discipline.
Our sports program is an opportunity for our youth to fellowship with other churches and
Christian groups in the metro. We offer spirit filled fellowship to ex-offenders through a unique
partnership program with the half way house in the Twin Cities. Each year we send at least one
mission to Africa to encourage national development with financial seminars, business banquets,
prayer times with national leaders, and evangelism training.
In early 2010, St. Andrew's Church established a partnership with St. John's Episcopal Church in
South Minneapolis, MN.
and save the lost. We are a diverse, family oriented church with members sharing a deep
appreciation for the world wide Anglican Communion. Many members of our church are
immigrants from Africa where they experienced trauma, fear, and uncertainty firsthand. Other
parishioners include Antiguans, Ukrainians, British and Americans. So, our parishioners hold a
unique resolve to minister to the “least of these” (Matt 25:40) born of personal experience with a
real and saving Lord.
We also share the love of Jesus to those families and singles in our community of North
Minneapolis who are made desperate by poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, crime, or ill health. All
of our clergy are experienced pastoral counseling professionals. Our laities are encouraged to
pray and minister as a witness in daily life and some are certified as Eucharistic ministers.
Episcopal Church Women (ECW) and Episcopal Church Men (ECM) provide stability to our
outreach program by regular events focused on prayer and a welcoming fellowship. Our annual
International Day features great food from West Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and America
respectively.
The youth of our parish are active in worship and meet regularly for discussion and fun
activities. We participate in Diocesan retreats and get together with a team of experienced and
devoted youth advisors. Sunday-school provides a nationally recognized Episcopal curriculum
that is a Bible based learning experience for children of all ages. Our teachers are well
organized and support the children with a healthy discipline.
Our sports program is an opportunity for our youth to fellowship with other churches and
Christian groups in the metro. We offer spirit filled fellowship to ex-offenders through a unique
partnership program with the half way house in the Twin Cities. Each year we send at least one
mission to Africa to encourage national development with financial seminars, business banquets,
prayer times with national leaders, and evangelism training.
In early 2010, St. Andrew's Church established a partnership with St. John's Episcopal Church in
South Minneapolis, MN.
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St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
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The early spark of life for St. Andrew's Parish began with the missionary zeal of the Reverend
David B. Knickerbacker, then Rector of Gethsemane Parish in Minneapolis, MN. Attracted to the
needs of the northern section of the city he began by holding services in a schoolhouse in
1858. A church building was erected on Washington and Seventh Ave North, consecrated by
Bishop Whipple on September 6, 1870. Services were held under the direction of Rev. Dr.
Knickerbacker until September 1875 when the name was changed to St. Andrew's. A vestry was
elected and the parish admitted to Convention on September 28, 1875.
In 1882, the Church acquired a new site on the corner of Twelfth Avenue N and Sixth Street.
The Parish called its first priest, the Reverend J.W. Prosser, who served until 1887. Sometime
around 1915 the Church made its final move to the present location. On January 13, 1924 the
church building was destroyed by fire. The Rt. Reverend Frank A. McElwain laid the
cornerstone of a new church on July 10, 1924 and the congregation moved into the present
building on November 20th.
St. Andrew's continued to prosper until the mid 80's when a decline began. Some lean years
followed and the then Rector, The Reverend Donald O. Nesheim served on a half time basis
from June 1992 to June 1994 as Special Priest in Charge. In June 1994 he was called as
Rector. The Church began to grow when some immigrants from Antigua, Liberia, Nigeria, and
other nations "found" St. Andrew's and spread the word to other Episcopalians. Then in 2004,
the Rev. James N. Wilson, II became Rector and served the church until 2006.
Today, St. Andrew's continues to grow with the help of our two wonderful and energetic priests,
the Rev. Roger Sonnesyn, Rector and Rev. Edward Barnett (retired) who are devoting their time
and services to ensure that the doors of St. Andrew's remain open.
David B. Knickerbacker, then Rector of Gethsemane Parish in Minneapolis, MN. Attracted to the
needs of the northern section of the city he began by holding services in a schoolhouse in
1858. A church building was erected on Washington and Seventh Ave North, consecrated by
Bishop Whipple on September 6, 1870. Services were held under the direction of Rev. Dr.
Knickerbacker until September 1875 when the name was changed to St. Andrew's. A vestry was
elected and the parish admitted to Convention on September 28, 1875.
In 1882, the Church acquired a new site on the corner of Twelfth Avenue N and Sixth Street.
The Parish called its first priest, the Reverend J.W. Prosser, who served until 1887. Sometime
around 1915 the Church made its final move to the present location. On January 13, 1924 the
church building was destroyed by fire. The Rt. Reverend Frank A. McElwain laid the
cornerstone of a new church on July 10, 1924 and the congregation moved into the present
building on November 20th.
St. Andrew's continued to prosper until the mid 80's when a decline began. Some lean years
followed and the then Rector, The Reverend Donald O. Nesheim served on a half time basis
from June 1992 to June 1994 as Special Priest in Charge. In June 1994 he was called as
Rector. The Church began to grow when some immigrants from Antigua, Liberia, Nigeria, and
other nations "found" St. Andrew's and spread the word to other Episcopalians. Then in 2004,
the Rev. James N. Wilson, II became Rector and served the church until 2006.
Today, St. Andrew's continues to grow with the help of our two wonderful and energetic priests,
the Rev. Roger Sonnesyn, Rector and Rev. Edward Barnett (retired) who are devoting their time
and services to ensure that the doors of St. Andrew's remain open.
Church History
| Augusta Paye President, Episcopal Church Women (ECW) |
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Copy right @ 2009. All rights reserved.
