Mankato Churches Established Between 1950 and 1998

Christ the King Lutheran Church

In the spring on 1960, construction began on the property located across from Washington School on McConnel Street. The first worship services were held on September 11, 1960 with Pastor Harry L. Anderson presiding. The congregation was officially organized and a new resolution was passed for membership in the Southern Minnesota District and the Evangelical Lutheran Church on November 16, 1960. The charter membership, as of January 1, 1961 consisted of 74 families (280 baptized members). Over the years, the congregation has added educational and administrative units and a new sanctuary. Their membership has exceeded 720 families (1,400 baptized members) and continues to grow.

Exerted from a passage by the Congregational Life Board of Christ the King Lutheran Church

Grace Baptist Church

This church began in 1953 when 8 men built a one room building on the corner of 6th Avenue and Lind Street, known as Grace Chapel. These men had a strong desire that boys and girls in their area would regularly attend Sunday School. The chapel began a building project in 1956, which drew the attention and support of several Mankato businessmen, including Louis Salet and Franklin Rogers of the Mankato Free Press. The congregation was part of a mission project of the Mennonite Brethren Conference for a year and then began their own church. This new congregation held its first service on November 10, 1957. Since that time, they have added several new additions. The congregation supports missionaries on five continents, a local bus ministry, a university campus program, a Christian school for children in kindergarten through 12th grade and many other church and community projects. They also produce a weekly telecast on KEYC-TV and a daily "dial-a-meditation" telephone ministry.

Exerted from a passage by Pastor John Michel

Hosanna Lutheran Church

Hosanna Lutheran Church held its first worship service at Kennedy Elementary School on September 24, 1972 with a congregation of 111. Two years later, on June 23, 1974, the groundbreaking ceremony was held at the end of Main Street, marking the beginning of their first church. The members of Hosanna worshipped in their new church for the first time on December 1, 1974, amid ladders and scaffolding. The church continued to grow. It has added two new additions, increasing its sanctuary space, Sunday School classroom space, and other educational areas.

Exerted from a passage by Carole Strandmo

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd

Located in West Mankato, Good Shepherd is more that 30 years old. On April 5, 1957, West Mankato citizens came together and formed a new Lutheran-Missouri Synod church. On April 26, the congregation accepted a constitution and on May 7, selected the name "The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd". Starting with 61 communicants on January 1, 1958, the membership has grown to 372 communicants and 503 members.

St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church

This congregation first met in the gymnasium of Roosevelt Elementary School in 1956. The congregation held their first service on parish property on Christmas Eve, 1957 in the newly completed hall. The church cornerstone was laid in October of 1958. The rectory followed and then the school was built. The first classes were held in the rectory basement. Following its completion, the present school building housed not only the school children during the day, but also was home to the School Sisters of Notre Dame who taught there. In 1973, this school consolidated with St. John's school and is now called St. Joseph-St. John's School with an enrollment of 145 students in kindergarten through 6th grade. The congregation has grown from 300 to 585 souls.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mankato

The Unitarian Universalist congregation began in 1952 when Munroe Husbands, from the national headquarters or the Unitarian Association in Boston met with interested persons at the Saulpaugh Hotel in Mankato. One of the most important objectives of these charter members was to establish a school for their children. The parents developed a curriculum that included the study of world religions, and the consideration of ethical choices in both secular and spiritual realms. Meetings for adults grew out of this active religious education program. For several years, the members met in various buildings around Mankato, before incorporating as a non-profit organization in 1961 and purchasing an eight-room at 114 Pohl Road. In 1979, the congregation remodeled the basement church school rooms, and added a sizable meeting room five years later. The membership has remained at thirty to thirty-five members over the years.

Exerted from a passage by Loretta Johnson

United Pentecostal Church

The United Pentecostal Church began early in 1964. After meeting in several rented buildings for ten years, the congregation purchased a permanent building at 119 State Street. This building has large classrooms, a beautiful kitchen and a sanctuary seating about 200. In 1975, the congregation purchased the Presbyterian manse, located next to the church. They now had a home to offer the pastor and his family. The church has been very active in recent years. They have an active ladies Auxiliary Group and many Bible studies. During the Christmas season, the congregation makes peanut brittle and sells it as a fundraising project.

Exerted from a passage by Rev. Michael Bachmeyer

Word of Life Lutheran Church

Organized in July of 1986 as a Free Lutheran church, the Word of Life Lutheran Church held its first worship service in the living room of the YWCA building in Mankato. Twenty eight people signed the charter on May 31, 1987. The ladies of Word of Life began a Women's Missionary Federation in 1988. They meet for Bible study, business, fellowship and support mission work world-wide. As the congregation continued to grow, the church moved around, finally settling at 105 Homestead Drive in 1989. They have plans to expand in the near future.

Exerted from a passage by Rev. Peter Franz

Return to Main Street

Source:
The Heritage of Blue Earth County Minnesota. pgs. 308-327. Curtis Media Corporation. Dallas Texas. 1990.