Gethsemane Episcopal Church 🇺🇸

If you appreciate historic architecture in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, Gethsemane Episcopal Church offers a fascinating look into the city's past. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this landmark stands as one of the oldest extant churches in Minneapolis. When you visit, you can admire its distinctive Gothic Revival architecture.

Architect Edward Stebbins deliberately modeled the building after small, Gothic-style churches found in rural England. As you look at the structure, notice its broad proportions rather than tall ones, a design choice that was quite unusual for churches built in the late nineteenth century. Originally constructed in a primarily residential neighborhood, the site now sits strikingly amid modern commercial development, showing how the surrounding urban landscape has transformed around it over time.

The church holds notable historical significance as well; back in 1895, it served as the main location for the very first Episcopal Church General Convention held west of the Mississippi River. While active congregational life has drawn to a close—with the final Sunday morning service held in November 2019 due to declining membership and financial struggles—the building remains an impressive architectural monument to Minneapolis's rich heritage. It is a worthwhile exterior stop for history lovers exploring downtown.

What to see at Gethsemane Episcopal Church

• National Register of Historic Places listing as one of the oldest extant Minneapolis churches
• Gothic Revival design modeled after small rural English churches by architect Edward Stebbins
• Unusually broad proportions for a late 19th-century church design
• Historical site of the 1895 Episcopal Church General Convention west of the Mississippi River
• Fascinating contrast between historic church architecture and surrounding modern commercial development

Visiting tips

Focus your visit on viewing the church's unique exterior architecture from the sidewalk, as regular Sunday services ceased in late 2019.

How long: 30-45 minutes · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Gethsemane Episcopal Church is easy to reach on Minneapolis’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Minneapolis travel guide.