Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

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Early missionary efforts in Minnesota were spearheaded by Bishop Jackson Kemper. As he traveled the waterways and oxcart trails, he established many ministry outposts at way stations. Bishop Kemper's assistant was the Reverend Jacob Chamberlain. Father Chamberlain, resident at St. Anthony Falls, helped found a small congregation with the assistance of Colonel John Jamieson. The first members met in homes, generally for evening prayer. On July 23, 1858 Bishop Kemper consecrated the new church building in Upper Town, near Lake Orono. The church continued there until 1877 when the building was moved to lots across from the present 4th Street. Most services were Morning Prayer, with occasional communion service offered by traveling Episcopal priests. The present church was building in 1890 - 1891 and was heated only on Sundays, fed by a wood stove near the organ's current location. During the late 1920s to 1950s, the church was open sporadically. During those years, many members began attending Union Congregational Church to provide for regular worship and education for children.

In 1957, the Reverend Richard Grein came to serve Holy Trinity (along with Trinity Becker, and St. John's Hassan). During his tenure, he also established St. Michael and All Angels in Monticello. Father Grein and several community leaders wondered if it was time to provide the Elk River area with more medical care. Their first effort to begin a hospital soon was changed into a nursing home. Guardian Angels was born in 1962 through the tremendous efforts of community members and the small band of Holy Trinity members. Guardian Angels admitted its first patient in 1965.

Today Guardian Angels serves seniors and others in the full array of senior services, and is one of the major employers in our community. (See the Guardian Angels history for more details.) Over the years, Holy Trinity clergy have served a variety of roles at Guardian Angels, including chair of the Board and nursing home administrator Holy Trinity members have also served on various Guardian Angels boards.

In 1962 the parish hall was added onto the east side of the church. In 1957, the current rectory was purchased to serve as housing for resident clergy Holy Trinity has had a variety of priests over the years, some of whom have lived in Elk River, and some of whom have traveled from the Twin Cities to serve this congregation.

Holy Trinity continued to make history. In 1979 it called the Reverend Margo Maris as one of the first women rectors in the country. Women have been very welcome at Holy Trinity, as four women priests have served Holy Trinity since the late 1970s.

In 1999, Holy Trinity purchased the property to the west (1330) to serve as church office, church school space, and additional space for a variety of uses.

The Reverend Wanda R. Copeland came to Holy Trinity in 1994, and is now the longest-serving priest in Holy Trinity's history.

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htec@sherbtel.net