History

In November of 1949, encourged by Christ Church and St. Clement's Churches of St. Paul, an organizational meeting was held in Roseville. On the First Sunday in Advent, 1949, the mission congregation met for the first time at the Lexington Elementary School in Roseville.

The group was initially dedicated “The Mission of the Good Shepherd.” We were the first congregation to started in the metropolitan area in 30 years.

A building site was selected at the intersection of Highway 36 and North Hamline Avenue. On February 1, 1950, the mission was dedication as St. Christopher’s. Construction began, and the first services were held at the present site on September 15, 1951.

The congregation consisted of 19 families and individuals; some of those original members are still active. In 1952, the mission became a parish.

Between the years of 1952 and 1967, the building expanded three times to add classrooms. The new sanctuary was completed in the fall of 1968. The latest addition, completed in 1994, added a new main entrance and provided handicapped accessibility.

In the late '60's, the State of Minnesota decided Highway 36 should be expanded from two lanes to four. In the process, we acquired the land surrounding the parish grounds as an approach and, consequently, the parish became known in the Diocese as "St. Christopher's- in-the-Cloverleaf."

The Parish has grown to more than 750 members today. In addition to Roseville, St. Christopher's parishioners come from over 25 surrounding communities. The parish has maintained active lay involvement in all aspects of parish life. St. Christopher's is one of the largest parishes in the Diocese. The parish also provides leadership in regional and diocesan commissions and programs. The parish was instrumental in the relocation of Vietnamese on a national scale refugees in 1975. We continue to have strong outreach programs.

The staff of the parish has been fairly long-tenured. The Rev. Vincent Anderson was the vicar of the mission. The first rector, The Rev. Gary Pielemeier, brought an assistant cleric to the staff. Under The Rev. Henry Hoover, the parish had, in addition to two priests, itsfirst non-stipendiary deacon. Our fourth Rector, The Rev. Ed Leidel, became the Bishop of Eastern Michigan in 1997. The Rev. Michael Hanley was called as the fifth rector in 1998.

The leadership for the Sunday School and the junior and senior youth groups has been provided by members of the parish along with the Children's Ministries and Youth Directors.

Don Hogenson, parish organist for over 40 years, retired in 1999. Our current orgainst and choir director is Jacob Manier.

In 2002, St. Christopher’s began a three-year joint ministry parnership with Resurrectioin Parish in Spring Lake Park.

For information about our current activities, see our pamphlet, The Ministries of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church.