Published on: Fri, 05/02/2008 - 14:44
The Rock of the Ages Church (originally St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church) was listed on the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota’s 2008 Ten Most Endangered Historic Places List. Historic Saint Paul partnered with the Greater Frogtown Community Development Corporation to nominate the structure.
The Rock of the Ages Church is a Gothic Revival style brick church in the Frogtown neighborhood of Saint Paul. The church is one of several small brick churches in the Frogtown neighborhood. However, its towering steeple, unique stained glass windows and location near the busy Dale Street and University Avenue intersection have made the Rock of the Ages a neighborhood landmark. The church is a highly visible reminder of the rich immigrant and ethnic history of the Frogtown neighborhood. Click here to read more about the history of the Rock of the Ages church.
The walls of the Rock of the Ages Church are bowing outwards and the sanctuary ceiling is collapsing. These structural deficiencies have rendered the building unfit for habitation. Water damage further threatens the building. Click here to view a video about the church from WCCO news.
Historic Saint Paul hopes that listing this building on the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota’s Ten Most Endangered List will raise awareness of the history of this neighborhood landmark and galvanizes wider community support for the restoration of the church.
