Parish History

History of the Church of the Good Shepherd
Windom, Minnesota

This history of the Church of the Good Shepherd is as authentic as it can possibly be with the material at hand. Much valuable information has either been destroyed or lost during the years.

The earliest history was written by Dr. G. C. Tanner and compiled by the Rev. Elmer Emery Lofstrom. From that time until it became an Independent parish in the year 1956, I have compiled the history, after being appointed historian of the church by the Rev. Webster G. Barnett, the vicar at that time, at the regular church meeting.

-Cora Dell Smith

[Handwritten] My niece, Mrs. O. R. Wolterstorff, ([nee] Winnifred A. Smith) typed this history for me. “A labor of love.” The Rev. D. Griffin Gunn was her grandfather.

-Cora Dell Smith

In his address to the Council of Bishops in 1872, Bishop Whipple recommended that clergymen on the line of each railway system organize into an informal associate mission. The Divinity students to be assigned this work. This being done with a view of providing services for the church people who were making homes in the new country.

In 1873, the Rev. Edward Livermore of St. Peter was appointed as rural Dean of the Western Convocation. Later in the year he made a visitation to some of the stations along the line of the St. Paul and Sioux City Railway southwest of Mankato. In his annual report of 1874, the Rev. Livermore named Windom as one of the places visited and where he held services during the year.

On January 21, 1874, Bishop Whipple made a visitation to Windom, this probably being the first service in Windom as far as is known.

The ravages of the locusts desolated this part of the state soon after and no further services seem to have been held in Windom until July 15, 1878.

In the spring of 1878, Samuel Collins erected a flour mill at Windom. As he and his wife were communicants, he desired the services of the church.

On December 2, 1878, Bishop Whipple visited Windom and baptized one person.

Shortly after that a Rev. Joseph L. Berne conducted a few services.

Then there were visitations by several different clergymen whose names are not mentioned.

On January 1st 1879, the Rev. Livermore married a couple (L. C. Hopkins and Carrie Besser). Also on June 1, 1880 in St. Peter Wm. Besser & Kate Lamereoux.

On May 4th 1879, the Rev. Tanner buried a child of Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Jones.

On June 12th 1879, a couple was married by Rev. Ellerby of Sioux City (B. T. Clement and Frances Cook).

The Rev. Livermore made occasional visits to the parish until the coming of the Rev. D. Griffin Gunn on June 15th 1880. Rev. Gunn had been rector of a church in New York City. One of his parishioners guaranteed the sum of $500.00 to a mission on the Sioux City railroad. Windom was selected as the center of the missionary work.

Rev. Gunn’s first service was held in the Chapel of the Methodist Church on June 15th 1880. Rev. Gunn was the first resident Episcopal clergyman in southwestern Minnesota beyond Mankato.

Rev. Gunn has a granddaughter, Mrs. O. R. Wolterstorff (Winnifred A. Smith) living in White Bear Lake, and a grandson, Harold D. Smith living in St. Paul.

The officials of the Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad selected the site of the present village of Wilder as a station on the main line. For fourteen years Wilder was nothing but a name.

The awakening came in 1885 when the Rev. Dr. David Griffin Gunn, with the approval of Bishop Whipple and Bishop Gilbert, began plans for a farm school. He purchased a farm near Windom and erected a number of wooden buildings. The building of the school and of the town, Wilder, was begun in the summer of 1885 with Rev. Gunn the prime mover.

The foundation of the college was completed in the fall and the buildings the following year 1886. The college was named Breck School in honor of Rev. Dr. James Lloyd Breck, a pioneer missionary of the Diocese.

The railway company erected a station and called it Wilder after a St. Paul philanthropist. It became incorporated in the year 1886.

At one time Breck School had two hundred pupils. As the country developed and High Schools were built in the neighboring towns, Bishop Samuel Cooke Edsall decided in 1915, that it would be advantageous to re-locate the school near the Agricultural Department of the University of Minnesota in St. Paul.

The property at Wilder was sold and four lots purchased at the entrance to the campus of the University. On one of these lots, in a dwelling house, the school was opened in 1917 with only eight pupils.

Later, fifteen acres of land were secured only three blocks from the city limits of Minneapolis.

During the summer of 1922 the first building was erected. This building proved to be inadequate.

The cornerstone for a larger building was laid April 4th 1927. This building was completed, opened and dedicated on Tuesday, September 10th 1929, by Rev. Frank Arthur McElwain, Bishop of Minnesota, and Governor Theodore Christianson.

In 1956 a new school was built on a new campus at 4200 West River Road, Minneapolis.

Breck is an Independent College Preparatory school for boys under the auspices of the Episcopal Church, Diocese of Minnesota. It is accredited by the University of Minnesota.

The primary function of the school is to prepare its students to do college work.

Its object is to improve the individual, both mentally and physically, through competitive sports.

Compulsory Chapel services are held three times a week. There is celebration of the Holy Communion each Wednesday morning during the school year.

Approximately ninety-eight per cent of Breck graduates enter college in all sections of the country.

The latter part of July, 1880, a notice was given to those interested in the church to meet in the county building to aid in putting the hall in order for Divine Worship and to take steps toward forming the Church Building Association of Windom.

Services were to be held once per month beginning the first of August.

About this time a gift of $110.00 for a church building came from friends of Rev. Gunn in New York City.

A parish Literary Association was organized. The lot for the church was donated by the railroad company. The builder was H. E. Rice of St. James, whose daughter, Mrs. Ned Peck, still resides in St. James and is a communicant of the Episcopal Church there.

The building of the Church of the Good Shepherd was completed in the spring of 1881 at a cost of $1200.00. The church was opened for Divine Worship on “St. John the Baptist's Day,” June 24th 1881.

The building of the church was made possible by donations from the following persons and friends of missionary work:

[The typed manuscript has been corrected from an original document.]

[Apparently Mr. and Mrs. Howard and Rev. Gunn are known from other documents.]

Between July 1882 and June 1883, the Rev. T. A. Johnson held services here twice on Sundays. This arrangement continued for a short time only. With the short pastorate of Rev. Johnson, the mission again became a part of the field of Rev. Gunn.

In October 1884, Rev. Gunn gave this part of his field to Mr. William Wilkinson who lately came from the Methodists.

Mr. Wilkinson had been licensed by the Bishop to read services, having been admitted as a candidate for Holy Orders.

In the fall of 1885, Mr. Wilkinson went to Seabury Divinity School, Faribault to finish his studies.

The Rev. George C. Tanner of Owatonna held a service once a month at Windom and Heron Lake until the following July 1886.

July 10th 1887, the Rev. C. A. Ware then in Deacon's orders, came to Wilder at the invitation of Rev. Gunn, to take the position of Head Master at Breck School, which Rev. Gunn was founding. In addition to school work, Rev. Ware was also a missionary at several points including Windom.

When Rev. Ware took charge of Windom, he found ten communicants. During his stay, church pews were put in; the church building was improved; the chancel and sacristy enlarged and a chancel rail put in. The cost of these improvements, made in 1890, was $200.00.

Rev. Ware resigned at Windom, holding his last service April 1st, 1892.

The Rev. C. H. Beaulieu came in September 1892 for one year. Rev. Ware was returned to Windom in September 1893 for one year.

The work was carried on very irregularly by students from Seabury Hall due to the small number of communicants.

After this date, Madelia was nominally under the charge of the Rev. Mr. Beaulieu of St. James, who held occasional services there. His work seemed to come between that of Rev. Ware, who had removed to Luverne, and the Rev. Frederick White, who held his first service at Windom while residing in Luverne, on April 22nd 1894. His last service is listed as April 26th 1896.

On April 2nd 1896, the communion set, chalice and paten purchased with money received from Mrs. Vaughn Merrick of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was presented to the church.

Mr. A. W. Bell, a student at Seabury Hall, held his first service on Sunday, June 7th 1896, and officiated for the last time on Sunday, September 24th 1896.

The Rev. T. Currie took charge from September 1896 to July 1897, and gave three Sunday services a month.

C. P. Bissett read services from October 9th 1897 to the summer of 1898.

Rev. L. F. Morris held services in June and July 1898.

Mr. E. E. Lofstrom, a student at Seabury Hall conducted services Sunday mornings from October 9th 1898 to June 11th 1899. During this period, Holy Communion was celebrated by Rev. O. H. Beaulieu and Dr. Tanner.

Mr. E. E. Lofstrom was ordained as a Deacon in 1899 and in July of that year resumed his work at Windom, making Windom his residence.

On Easter Sunday 1899, six stained glass windows were dedicated. One was given by Rev. D. Griffin Gunn in memory of his wife, Katherine; one was given by sons, Richard and George, and grandson, Frank, in memory of Samuel Collins; four were given by the Guild.

The first altar hangings were the red ones, purchased in New York City and presented to the church by Mrs. Charles Stuart King. Green Altar hangings were given in September 1899, and purple ones in December 1899 by Mrs. T. C. Collins, Mrs. J. D. Brubacher and the Guild.

On the Sunday after Easter 1899, the brass Altar vases, given by Seabury Divinity School, were dedicated.

Rev. C. H. Beaulieu alternated with Rev. E. E. Lofstrom during the winter of 1899-1900 to let Rev. Lofstrom go to Wilder once in two weeks.

The summer of 1900 to October 1901, Rev. Lofstrom maintained services at Wilder every other Sunday evening at the request of the Board of Missions and of the school making it necessary to discontinue his visits to Madelia.

In January 1901, the Bishop Gilbert Guild presented to the parish one burse, one pall, one corporal, one linen veil and two purificators, all of the finest linen.

In the fall of 1900 the vestibule was moved to the center of the front end of the church and two sets of double doors put in instead of the two corner doors and a furnace was placed under the church. Bishop Gilbert gave the money for the vestibule.

About this same time the chancel carpet was added to the church, also six new pews, a prayer desk and a credence shelf. The cost of these improvements was over $500.00.

The Bishop Whipple memorial window, given by the Women's Guild of the church, and the Bishop Gilbert memorial window, given by the Bishop Gilbert Guild, were installed and dedicated at this time also. Bishop Edsall consecrated the new chapel February 24th 1902.

The Rev. E. E. Lofstrom held his last service in Windom July 13th 1902. He was married to Mabel Edith Collins, a communicant of the parish, September 12th 1906. They had four children: Marjorie, Thomas, Caroline and William.

Rev. Lofstrom died at an early age and Mrs. Lofstrom married the Rt. Rev. Frank Arthur McElwain, Bishop of Minnesota on July 28th 1920.

Rev. Knowlton, the missionary at St. James, took charge in October 1902, and for a time held services each Sunday evening. In the removal of nearly all the communicants, an average of one service per month was all that could be allotted to the Church of the Good Shepherd. This continued for a number of years.

Rev. Knowlton died August 24th 1914 and the Rev. W. H. Dennis succeeded to the charge of the mission.

In the summer of 1915 the Rev. A. E. Filmore took charge of the mission and held services during the months, as the weather permitted, one service per month.

Records are inadequate for this period but the following clergymen are known to have served the parish for brief times or for isolated services:

In June 1935 Bishop Keeler named the Rev. Leland Stark of New Ulm to have charge of the mission. He was at the same time in charge of Calvary Church in St. James, All Souls' Church in Sleepy Eye and St. Peter's Church in New Ulm where he lived. Mrs. Stark mentions Windom and their lives in serving these stations in her book: “I Chose a Parson”. Rev. Stark served the Church of the Good Shepherd until June 1st 1937, July & Sept, 1937

Rev. Stark became rector of Ascension Church in Stillwater in 1938 and then in 1940 became Dean of Calvary Cathedral in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His next charge was the rectorship of the Church of the Epiphany in Washington. D. C. In January 1953, he was elected Bishop Co-Adjutor of the Diocese of Newark, New Jersey. He became the Diocesan of Newark on November 1st, 1958. A strong emphasis of Rev. Stark's ministry has always been on the necessity of Christian unity. To quote from his article “That They May All Be One”: “We Christians are fond of saying that only the Gospel of Christ can bring order out of the chaos of our tragic times. But how can we help unite a divided world when we ourselves, all claiming to follow the same master, are not united?”

Bishop Stark is married to the former Phyllis W. Anderson and has two sons, Craig and Leighton. He left Windom June 1st, 1937.

The Rev. Richard R. Emery came to the Church of the Good Shepherd as a deacon July 1st 1937. He was in charge of St. John's Church in Worthington at the same time but lived in Windom at the Borst residence, 1032 Sixth Avenue. He was ordained a priest in the Church of the Good Shepherd December 17th 1938.

During Rev. Emery's stay, the number of communicants increased and many improvements in the church were made: The undercroft was built and furnished; a well was dug; the floor of the nave was tiled; a bright red carpet was laid in the chancel; a red runner was laid in the nave and red coverings were placed on the kneeling benches.

Rev. Emery was well liked in the community and took an active part in community affairs. He served a term as president of the Windom Community Club in a most efficient manner. While in Windom, he married Miss Alice Phelps, and instructor in the Windom schools and a graduate of the University of Minnesota. They have a son, John, and a daughter, Margaret.

Rev. Emery left the Church of the Good Shepherd in January, 1942 to be rector of Christ Church in Albert Lea. From Albert Lea he went to Minneapolis to be rector of St. Paul's Church.

Rev. Emery was elected the sixth Bishop of North Dakota in 1951 and was installed in his new office in Gethsemane Cathedral in Fargo, North Dakota, at 10:30 A. M. on May 17th 1951 by the Rt. Rev. Douglas H. Atwell, retired Bishop of North Dakota.

The Pectoral Cross was given to Rev. Emery by the people of his previous parishes.

The Episcopal ring was a gift of the clergy of the Diocese of Minnesota. A complete set of Episcopal vestments was the gift of the Women's Auxiliary of St. Paul's parish. Additional vestments were given by St. Mark's Cathedral and the Missionary District of North Dakota.

The Rev. Frederick W. Putnam came to the Church of the Good Shepherd as a Deacon in June 1942, and was also in charge of St. John's Church in Worthington. After re had been in Windom four months, he married Miss Helen Prouse of Minneapolis. They have three sons, James, John and Andrew.

During Rev. Putnam's stay, the people in the parish began to widen their interest in Diocesan affairs and to take on more of the support of the salary of their vicar. There was an active Sunday School for the children; a very effective daily vacation Bible School during the summer and a Released Time Religious Education class which had one hundred per cent attendance.

Rev. Putnam, in connection with Father Mulcahey of the Roman Catholic parish, instituted the custom of Friday evening dances after football and basketball games for the benefit of the High School students to give them a healthy outlet for their youthful enthusiasm. They also organized a basketball league which gave the young men of the community active, constructive sport activities during the long winter months.

Rev. Putnam left Windom in September 1943 to become rector of Trinity Church in Iowa City and to be chaplain at the University of Iowa.

In November 1947 Rev. Putnam was called to be rector of St. Matthew's Church in Evanston, Illinois, and in 1959 he became rector of St. James' Church in Wichita, Kansas. In December 1962 he was elected Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Oklahoma.

The Rev. Vernon E. Johnson came to the Church of the Good Shepherd as a deacon in 1944. He was in charge of Calvary Church, St. James at the same time. While Rev. Johnson was vicar of the mission, the chancel of the church was re-furnished, including a new altar; new pulpit; choir pews; altar rail; credence table; hymnals; prayer books; a reading desk; a rose window above the altar and a new organ.

Rev. Johnson is married to the former Mary Ann Phelps and they have four children: Stephen, Bromley, Merodie and [There is a blank space here.]

Rev. Johnson left Windom in 1947 to become rector of St. Paul's Church in Winona. In 1950 he was made Archdeacon of missionary work for the diocese of Minnesota and assisted the Rt. Rev. Stephen E. Keeler, Bishop of the Diocese, in the administration of dependent parishes.

In 1951 Rev. Johnson was named rector of St. Paul's Church in Minneapolis. He is strongly mission-minded and St. Paul's Church has sponsored five new missions.

Rev. Geoffrey W. Ashworth came to the Church of the Good Shepherd in 1948. While in Windom he spent much time with the youth of all denominations in the community with whom his influence was for the good.

Rev. Ashworth left Windom in 1950 to become Associate Rector of the Ascension and Holy Trinity Parish in Pueblo, Colorado. At the present time he is an assistant on the staff of St. Paul's Church, Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. Ashworth is a bachelor.

The Rev. Webster G. Barnett, the son of a priest, the Rev. Joseph N. Barnett, and the nephew of a Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Conrad H. Gessner of South Dakota, came as a deacon to be vicar of the Church of the Good Shepherd in July 1951. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Church of the Good Shepherd in December 1951.

Under Rev. Barnett's leadership, the number of children in the Sunday School, as well as the attendance of adults at church, was greatly increased. Improvements were made in the undercroft; the kitchen was enlarged, new cupboards were put in.

Mr. Barnett is married to the former Mary Etta Shirley of Bangor, Maine. They have four children: Andrew, Stephen, Rebecca and Elizabeth.

While in Windom, Rev. Barnett was most active in the affairs of the community. He was president of the Ministerial Association; a member of the Civic and Commerce Association; a member of the Kiwanis Club; a member of the J. C.'s and county chair man of the March of Dimes.

Rev. Barnett left Windom in November 1955 to be rector of the new St. David's Episcopal Church in Minnetonka Mills, Minnesota.

The Rev. Walter Allyn Rogers came to the Church of the Good Shepherd in November 1955. He was secretary to the Technical Advisor Committee for Aeronautics, Commonwealth of Massachusetts from 1935 to 1938, and was employed by the Boston and Maine rail road in Boston, Massachusetts from 1937 to 1947. He served in the army of the United States during World War II and served in England, France and Belgium. He received the Bronze Star medal

from this country and the order of the British Empire from the British Government.

While stationed in Wethersfield, Essex, England with the 20th Fighter Bomb Wing, U. S. A. F., he helped sponsor a Christmas project for the eighty orphans at the Bardsfield Essex Orphanage who had lost their parents due to aid raids and bombings in England during the battle of England.

The orphans called him “Uncle Walter” and the project later became known as “Operation Uncle Walter” in honor of the Rev. Walter Allyn Rogers.

Rev. Rogers had been Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Duluth, Minnesota prior to coming to Windom.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd was held Sunday, January 8th 1956. It was preceded by a pot-luck supper in the undercroft of the church after the service of Evening Prayer and Feast of Lights at 6:00 P. M.

Business to come before the meeting, after hearing the annual reports of the Parish, was the election of a Vestry; delegates to attend the Diocesan Convention in June 1956 and the signing of a petition to the Bishop by a majority of the communicants for status as an independent parish.

The time had come for Windom to make plans for becoming independent of any tie-up with another mission and to assume total financial responsibility for their parish.

To quote Bishop Keeler: “Certainly there has been progress here during the years for when I first knew them at Windom services were being taken by a student from Seabury Divinity School, Faribault. Now, by vote of the congregation, they are to become an independent, self supporting parish.”

A committee was appointed for the incorporation of the parish, as required by the Canons of the Diocese of Minnesota, for a mission church becoming an independent parish.

In order to become an independent parish, in its petition to the Bishop, the parish must assure the Bishop of the Diocese that it is a self-supporting parish and no longer requires aid from the Diocese. The Articles of Incorporation under the laws of the state of Minnesota must be filed and these two requirements having been met, the parish petitions the Diocesan Convention for recognition as an independent parish.

This was done in 1956.

During the period of 1935 to 1955 the parish showed a steady growth.

The Church of the Good Shepherd had served its people in the Windom community for nearly seventy-five years and celebrated its Diamond Jubilee by changing its status from a mission to that of an Independent Parish, having its own rector and meeting all its financial obligations.

The Rev. W. A. Rogers left Windom in November 1957. He is now rector of Saint Simeon’s Church in the Bronx, New York.

Between 1957 and the arrival of the Rev. Lawrence J. Rowe as the rector of the church, the gap was filled by Mr. Donald C. Field, vicar of Calvary Church in St. James; by Mr. Paul Benson and Mr. Paul Lockwood who been lay readers in the Parish for sometime.

The pledging did not reach the expected amount, some people lost interest and much work needed to be done.

The Rev. Lawrence J. Rowe accepted a call to the Church of the Good Shepherd on June 15th 1958. He was installed as rector September 14th 1958. Rev. Rowe had been rector of Grace Church in Jamestown, North Dakota for five years before coming to Windom.

He is married to the former Emma A. Richter and they have two children: Michael and Linda.

Under Rev. Rowe’s leadership, the numerical strength was increased; the debt on the former rectory was paid and the rectory exchanged for a more suitable one at 1260 Third Avenue with the balance owed being carried in the budget; a Parish house next to the church was purchased through a special fund contribution from the members and with a loan from the bank; many lapsed members have returned to take a more active part in the life of the parish; an excellent church school with an adult class is being held; a Brotherhood of St. Andrew was organized, and much work has been done with the choirs - both Junior and Senior.

The Church of the Good Shepherd is witnessing to its faith through its efforts to service the community, especially in offering the use of the Parish House to groups needing a place to meet.

The doors of the Church of the Good Shepherd are never locked. Strangers often enter for prayer and rest. They sometimes leave notes.

A note left by a former Windomite read:

“I was baptized in this church over seventy years ago.”

Another note dated June 7th 1945 read:

“I was tired and weary on my journey
Until seven I must spend the day
And as I walked the blocks of your city
In search of a place to rest
I came to this little church house (she invited me in)
Oh, now thankful to God I am
There are places such as this
Where we unmolested may
Praise Him for His wonderful care.”

Bishops serving Minnesota during the period of this history of the Church of the Good Shepherd:

Bishop Whipple

Bishop Whipple was elected the first Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Minnesota in 1859.

He was so trusted by the Indians of Minnesota because of his complete honesty with them, that they called him: “Straight Tongue.”

He was instrumental in seeing that the United States Government gave the Indians fair treaties and that the terms of older treaties were fulfilled.

Some church members wanted to oust the Indians from Minnesota but Bishop Whipple vowed: “God being my helper, it will never be said that the first Bishop of Minnesota turned his back on the heathen at his door.”

Bishop Whipple went to Washington to see President Lincoln and reviewed the causes and events of the Minnesota massacre with all the passion of his soul. He told it in such gripping a manner that tears came to President Lincoln's eyes.

President Lincoln told the Bishop: “We need two honest men to watch each Indian agent. This Indian service must be reformed. If I get through this war, I am going to see that it is done.”

His great interest in Red men and his own colorful person gave him a big reception abroad, particularly in England.

When he marched in a procession to get one of five honorary Doctor's degrees, he received from British Universities, the undergraduates cheered wildly: “Here comes the Wild Red Man from the West.”

On another trip to England, he had an audience with Victoria, who asked him about his missions. She held him in high regard. She gave him her portrait.

Prime Minister Gladstone and many other persons in England were among his intimate friends.

In England he became a chief engineer in setting up the first International Lambeth Conference of the Bishops of the whole Anglican Communion.

His friends in America included President Lincoln, Generals McClellon, Sherman, Meade, Hooker and Halleck, Jenny Lind, Horace Greeley, Samuel Morse, Phillips Brooks, and such Indian chiefs as Taopi, Good Thunder and Wabasha.

He was known within the Diocese, nationally and internationally, as: “The Apostle of the Indians”. His was the voice that awakened the conscience of the nation to the evil of the Indian system.

He was an indefatigable money raiser. Few could hold out against his letters and personal pleas.

He built schools and other church institutions in Faribault, Minnesota alone which had in 1890 a value of $760,000.00.

He established Shattuck, St. Mary's and Seabury Divinity Schools in Faribault.

Bishop Whipple held his first service at Wabasha November 10th 1859. On that day he baptized a son of the hereditary chief of the Lower Sioux, Chief Wabasha.

Bishop Whipple printed the first issue of the Minnesota Missionary in October 1877.

His success was due to his great power of organization; his ability to inspire others; his loyalty to his subordinates; his manner of interesting people of wealth in his work and his insistence on the best educational foundations.

Bishop Whipple died in Faribault in 1901, after serving as Bishop of Minnesota for more than forty years. He was buried in the crypt beneath the Altar of the Cathedral in Faribault.

The Centennial of the Consecration of the Rt. Rev. Henry Benjamin Whipple as the first Bishop of Minnesota and of his first service in Minnesota was held November 10th 1959, in Grace Memorial Church, Wabasha, Minnesota.

The Rt. Rev. Hamilton H. Kellogg, Bishop of Minnesota, and the Rt. Rev. Philip F. McNairy, Suffragan Bishop of Minnesota took part in the centennial Activities.

Other honored guests were:

Mrs. Jane W. Burt, granddaughter and closest living relative of Bishop Whipple. She was raised in the Whipple household from childhood after her father, the Bishop's son, died.

Notices of the event were sent to President Eisenhower, Queen Elizabeth; Archbishop of Canterbury; the Rt. Rev. Henry Knox Sherrill, the presiding Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States and other prominent church and government officials in recognition of the wide-spread influence of Bishop Whipple in both national Indian affairs and international church affairs.

The Rt. Rev. Frank Arthur McElwain D. D. StL, the third Bishop of Minnesota.

Bishop McElwain was educated at Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, and Seabury Divinity School. He was a student and Professor at Seabury and Dean of the church Cathedral at Faribault. He was a brilliant scholar.

He was consecrated Bishop Suffragan of Minnesota in 1912 and elected Bishop in 1917.

After the merger of Seabury Divinity School, Faribault, and Western Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois, as Seabury Western Seminary in 1933, Bishop McElwain served as Professor of Pastoral Theology and Homiletics; Dean and President of the Seminary. He and his family moved from Minneapolis to Evanston, Illinois.

He commuted to Minneapolis until his retirement as Bishop of Minnesota December 31st 1943. He retired as Dean of Seabury Western in June 1944.

His interests were wide and varied. Above all else, over shadowing his many talents and achievements, he was a beloved and faithful Pastor of his flock.

He loved his people and they loved him and he knew his sheep by name. He had a remarkable memory for people and never forgot the name of any whom he had confirmed.

Bishop McElwain assisted Bishop Creighton of Michigan 1944-1945.

He substituted as Hebrew and old Testament Professor at Seabury-Western 1945, 1946.

He was in charge of St. Andrew's Church in Harriman, Tennessee 1947-1948.

He became warden of the Bose Conference Center at Monteagle, Tennessee, where he remained until 1952, when he and Mrs. McElwain moved to Lexington, North Carolina.

While in North Carolina, he served Trinity Church, Statesville, and Grace Church, Lexington.

At General Convention in Boston 1952, the presiding Bishop Sherrill appointed Bishop McElwain on the joint committee - the only retired Bishop who was appointed on any committee to supervise the publication of a new addition to the Constitution and Canons. He was chosen chairman and served until it was completed and a new addition published in 1955.

The presiding Bishop, recognizing Bishop McElwain as the most outstanding scholar in the field of canon law of the church, appointed him as chairman of the House of Bishops the committee on canons - a great and richly deserved tribute to both the Bishop and to the Diocese of Minnesota.

The Rt. Rev. Frank A. McElwain, DD, STD, retired Bishop of Minnesota, was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Sacred Theology at the 129th Commencement of Hobart College, Geneva, New York, and the 43rd Commencement of William Smith College at Geneva, New York, Sunday, June 13th.

Following is a citation read by President Alan Willard Brown at the time the degree was conferred on Dr. McElwain:

“By authority delegated to me, I confer upon you the degree of Doctor of Sacred Theology of these colleges, honoris causa and admit you to all the liberties, privileges and responsibilities thereto appertaining.

“Bishop McElwain, preacher, teacher and scholar, born in nearby Warsaw, New York, and educated at Trinity College and Seabury Divinity School, has devoted a lifetime of service to the Episcopal churches in the West.

“Consecrated Bishop Suffragan of Minnesota in 1912, he was elected Bishop in 1917 and until 1943 expanded his great energies on that rapidly growing diocese.

“For more than ten years he served also as Professor and later as President and Dean of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary.

“His great gift as a preacher and Old Testament scholar enriched his teaching of a pastoral theology and his profound knowledge of Canon law earned him the admiration and respect of his colleagues.”

“Genial, but a vigorous interpreter of the legal structure of the church, he has been for a number of years chairman of the committee on canons of the House of Bishops, as well as Chairman of the Joint Committee of General Convention on the Annotated Edition of the Canons.

“Skilled in parliamentary law and able in debate, his tireless efforts have strengthened our understanding of the subtle and complex forms which maintain the Faith of the Invisible church and the corporate 1ife of the visible. The church in America is stronger for his life of spiritual and intellectual dedication.

“We welcome to the ranks of our honorary alumni this fine defender of our religious tradition.”

Bishop and Mrs. McElwain attended the Anglican Congress in Minneapolis, Minnesota in August 4th-14th, 1954 as guests of the city of Minneapolis.

Bishop McElwain passed away September 19th 1957 in Lexington, North Carolina and was buried in Maple Lawn Cemetery, Faribault, Minnesota, September 23rd 1957. Bishop Kellogg had charge of the funeral. The clergymen in the state attended the funeral in a body.

“Bishop McElwain always gave, without measure or question of himself and of his substance, for others, while seeking nothing for himself. He always moved in the background of events in order that the church to which he had dedicated himself and for whose cause he gave so unselfishly always might occupy the foreground. To me, these are the hallmarks of sainthood upon earth. For the example, life and works of the third Bishop of Minnesota, we genuinely are grateful. He has been termed by those who knew him intimately: ‘A beloved, humble and saintly Bishop.’”

-Bishop Kellogg

The unveiling of the late Bishop McElwain’s portrait took place May 28th, 1958 in the chapel of St. John's [sic] the Divine, the Seabury-Western Seminary Chapel. It was in connection with the Centennial Observance of the founding of Old Seabury Divinity School, Faribault.

He was Bishop of Minnesota for thirty years.

The Rt. Rev. Stephen Edward Keeler DD, LLD

The Rt. Rev. Keeler was born in New Canaan, Connecticut, April 16th 1887. He was graduated from Hoofer School in 1906 and from Yale in 1910 with a B. A. degree.

While at Yale, he took two prizes in oratory which had not been taken by the same person in more than eighty years.

In 1913 he was graduated from General Theological Seminary and was ordained.

He was given his Doctor of Divinity degree from Kenyon College and Doctor of Sacred Theology from General Seminary.

In 1948, he was also given the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the University of the South.

After holding rectorships in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Cleveland and Akron, Ohio, while rector of St. Chrysostom's Church, Chicago, Illinois, on April 15th 1931, he was elected Bishop Co-adjutor of Minnesota.

Outstanding among objectives accomplished by Bishop Keeler in Minnesota was his share in having effected a merger between old Seabury Divinity School, Faribault, Minnesota, and Western Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois.

Under his leadership, a missionary work was established among the sick, underprivileged and unfortunate in and around the twin cities.

Bishop Keeler was particularly interested in rural work. Many small churches were re-opened, the Church of the Good Shepherd among the number, put in repair and the best possible young men put in charge. Easter and Christmas found him in some of these places rather than in large city churches.

Another one of his particular interests has been work among the Indians.

Bishop Keeler has taken an active interest in church schools and institutions of the Diocese.

In 1935, he was elected President of the Province of the Northwest which is composed of Minnesota and seven other states in the surrounding area.

In 1941, foreseeing the shortage of clergymen due to the war, he organized the Cathedral School of Bishop's men, through which some fifty laymen were trained for work throughout the rural areas where there were no resident clergymen.

In 1941, the Rt. Rev. Henry Knox Sherrill DD, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal churches in America, appointed Bishop Keeler as Bishop in charge of the Convocation of American Episcopal churches in Europe, which took him overseas twice yearly.

Bishop Keeler was chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota Council of Churches.

In addition to his church interests, including interdenominational, he held membership on the Boards of many secular organizations and social agencies of the twin cities.

A committee planned a silver fete to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Diocesan's consecration as a Bishop December 31st 1943. It included a testimonial dinner at the Nicollet Hotel in Minneapolis. A surprise guest at the dinner was an old friend, The Presiding Bishop Sherrill, a friend of forty- nine years.

The Anglican Congress which was so successfully concluded in August 1954, was really brought to Minneapolis through the vision and energy of Bishop Keeler. It was a wonderful success, bringing together through delegates, people from all lands. It was the first time the Congress had been held outside of England.

Bishop Keeler died in Heidelberg, Germany, September 25th 1956, while on his semi-annual visit to Europe in his capacity as Bishop-in-Charge of the Convocation of American churches in Europe.

He had that charge from 1953-1956.

He was buried in Minneapolis April 25th 1957. His grave is adjacent to the corner stone of the Cathedral Church of St. Mark.

The graveside service was private. It was read by Bishop Kellogg who stood at one edge of the ledger. At the other end of the ledger the Very Rev. Henry N. Hancock, Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Mark, stood, holding the Anglican Congress Cross. This cross was a gift of gratitude to the Bishop and Diocese of Minnesota from the delegates to the 1954 Anglican Congress in Minneapolis, of which the Bishop, with the Diocese of Minnesota, was host.

Bishop Keeler will be genuinely and greatly missed by those with whom he worked day in and day out at the Diocesan head quarters.

He will be missed by the clergy and laity of the Diocese of Minnesota and by his European jurisdiction. He will be missed by the Episcopal churches as a whole among whose ablest and wisest leaders he certainly must be numbered.

Bishop Kellogg

The Rt. Rev. Hamilton Hyde Kellogg, a native of New York, graduated from Lawrenceville School in 1917, and, after his war service, from Williams College in 1921.

He received his M. A. degree in 1924 from Columbia, the same year that he graduated from the General Theological Seminary, New York City.

He holds honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees from Williams, the University of the South and Hamilton College. The General Theological Seminary granted him the Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in 1946.

He received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Syracuse University in 1956.

He was ordained Deacon April 1924 and Priest in December of that year, both of the Diocese of Central New York.

Bishop Kellogg served successfully 1924-1925 as priest in charge of St. Albans, Syracuse, New York, and St. Marks, Janesville, New York; 1925-1929 assistant at Christ Church, Greenwich, Connecticut; 1929-1941, rector of St. James, Danbury, Connecticut, where he was active in community affairs, serving as chairman of the mayor's committee of twenty-five; a member of the Board of Managers of the Danbury Hospital, and President of the Danbury Ministerial Association.

For almost five years he served in the United States army as a chaplain February 1941 - November 1945. His final assignment was senior chaplain of the First United States Army in Europe with the rank of Colonel. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Ribbon and the Belgium Croix de Guerreance Palm.

In January 1946, he became rector of Christ Church, Houston, Texas and in 1949 the first Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Houston. He held many important positions in the Diocese of Texas.

As Coadjutor of Minnesota, in which office he was consecrated June 24th 1952, he was trustee of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois; St. Luke's Hospital, St. Paul; Breck School, St. Paul; St. Mary's, St. James and Shattuck Schools, Faribault, Minnesota.

On Tuesday, December 4th 1959, Bishop Kellogg was installed as the fifth Bishop of Minnesota at a service in the Cathedral Church of St. Mark, Minneapolis.

As Bishop of Minnesota, he automatically becomes chairman of the Bishop and Council of the Diocese; chairman of the Cathedral Chapters of the Cathedral Church of St. Mark in Minneapolis and of the Cathedral Church of Our Merciful Saviour in Faribault; chairman of the Board of the University House Corporation; the Student Center of the University of Minnesota; President of the Board of Breck School, St. Paul; Rector and President of the Board of Trustees of St. James' School, Faribault; Rector and President of St. Mary's Hall, Faribault; President of the Board of Trustees of Shattuck School, President of Trustees of the Diocese of Minnesota, Incorporated; a Vice Chairman and some time during 1954, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois; as well as a number of other church affiliated institutions.

He attended the Lambeth Conference in England July 4th to August 10th 1958. The Conference met in the Lambeth Palace of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It is a World gathering of Anglican Bishops who assemble every ten years. This will be the first Conference attended by Bishop Kellogg since he became head of the Diocese.

The Very Rev. Philip Frederick McNairy DD

Bishop McNairy was born a t Lake City, Minnesota. He was graduated from the Lake City High School; from Kenyon College in 1932; received his STB at Bexley Hall in 1934; earned his DD degree at Kenyon College in 1941.

He has served St. Andrew's Mission, Columbus, Ohio, 1935-1940; Christ's Church, et. Paul, from 1940-1950 before going to New York.

Dean McNairy is a life member of the Board of Community Chest, St. Paul, and a former President of the Council of Social agencies of St. Paul and the St. Paul Council of Human Relations.

He was elected man of the year in 1946 by the St. Paul Junior Chamber of Commerce.

While rector of Christ Church in St. Paul, he was deputy to the General Convention in 1946 and has since represented the Diocese of Western New York as a deputy to the General Convention in 1952 and 1955 and deputy elect in 1958.

In Minnesota, he was chairman of the Department of Christian Education; President and member of the Standing Committee; member of the Board of Managers of the University House Corporation; the Directing body of the Episcopal work on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

In the Diocese of Western New York he served on the Finance Committee and was Vice-Chairman of the Diocesan Executive Council.

He is a past President of the Council of Churches of Buffalo and Erie counties; a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Chest and the American Red Cross, Buffalo Chapter; Protestant Chaplain of the A. H. L. and Chaplain of Civilian Defense; a member of the Council of the State Commission against Discrimination and a member of the Masonic Lodge.

Renowned as a preacher, Dean McNairy has been a Lenten noon day preacher at St. Thomas and St. Bartholomew churches in New York City and the Cathedrals in Hartford, Connecticut; Ottawa and London, Ontario, Canada and the Cathedral Church of St. Mark, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Bishop McNairy is also a frequent contributor of articles to the Witness, a National Episcopal Church magazine.

He was consecrated Suffragan Bishop of Minnesota January 30th 1958 in the Cathedral of St. Mark's, Minneapolis, Minnesota,

Bishop McNairy has returned to his home state - Minnesota - a state he left in 1950 to become the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral at Buffalo, New York.

Mr. Paul Benson, Layreader

Mr. Paul Benson is a most efficient lay reader of the Church of the Good Shepherd. His business is real estate and insurance. He began being a lay reader when Rev. Emery was on his vacation.

When Rev. Emery left Windom in January 1942, Mr. Benson took the service every Sunday for nine months until the coming of the Rev. Vernon Johnson.

Mr. Benson also took services in St. James, Worthington, Luverne, and Redwood Falls. He drove one hundred twenty-five miles to hold services in Holy Trinity, Luverne every Sunday for a while until a clergyman could be secured for that field.

Mr. Benson was a member of the Bishop and Council (1945) of the Cathedral Chapter and of the Diocesan Committee on the Reconstruction and Advance Fund. He said: “During the nine months that I held services in Windom, I learned that the people of the Good Shepherd’s parish were in the front rank when it came to church loyalty. I also learned that there is so much expected of a rector about which people know very little. Instead of wondering what he does with his time, I now wonder how he finds time to do all that he does.”

“Frankly,” Mr. Benson says, “I've profited more from my experience than has anyone else. It has given me an opportunity to be of service to my church and for that I'll always be thankful.”

Mr. Benson has been senior Warden and has held other offices in the church, as well as being on important state committees.

He was elected a deputy to the synod of the sixth province. He was elected a delegate to the Triennial Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Boston, Massachusetts, September 1952.

He was elected a member of the Bishop and Council Committee in May, 1945.

He was elected a delegate to the General Convention which met in Honolulu but was unable to attend.

Mr. and Mrs. Benson have a son and daughter.

Mr. Paul Lockwood, Lay Reader.

Mr. Lockwood is an implement dealer in Windom.

For some time he took the services in Windom, St. James and Worthington.

He had charge of the services in Worthington in 1945 for four or five months when the rector at that place left. This meant a sixty-five mile trip each Sunday in addition to his time spent for preparation of his sermons.

Mr. Lockwood says: “We get more out of our work than we put into it.”

[While doing some cleaning in the parish office, I came across the handwritten manuscript and early typed copy of this edition of Good Shepherd’s history. I believe it was written in about 1960. I have taken the opportunity to scan this wonderful document and turn it into an electronic file for sharing on the web. I have left the punctuation and paragraph style, etc. in place, only marking one or two errors with the sign [sic]. I have also added a few items in square brackets. My next project will be to turn into an electronic file the Centennial booklet in which was incorporated a shortened version of this history along with a number of other items, among them lists of leaders over the years and biographies of rectors and vicars after her history closed. Perhaps I will add some information from that point on, becoming another in the list of historians and lovers of the place.

Marilla J. Whitney+ 15 September 2006]

Appendix I - Some information about the stained glass

A small slip of paper was found in the church with the following typed on it:

"Today we dedicate six new stained glass windows as memorials.

'The Lamb shall be their shepherd' window is in memory of Paul Benson.
The Rose window is in memory of Anne Benson.
The hour glass window is in memory of Eli Lund.
The shield of St. George (red cross on white field) of the Church of England is in memory of John and Minnie Shroud.
The wayfarer's chapel of St. Julian of Norwich window is in memory of Morris Breasted.
The lamp of knowledge and music window is in memory of Lorans and Edna Warren.
We welcome John Salisbury of Gaytee Glass Company who made these windows.

“And the sanctuary light had not yet gone out in the Temple of God . . .”
-The Holy Bible

Our Sanctuary light burns over the altar at all times. It was given and accepted as a memorial to the Rev. Fr. Conrad Weider and Deacon Rex Rice. It costs us $2.50 a week to keep it burning or $12.00 a month. We need to receive this to be able to afford this most meaningful sign of the Presence of God in His house. It is appropriate that such be given as a memorial or in Thanksgiving."

[This note may be from a later time as these windows are still in the church in 2005. And the Gaytee Glass Company is still in business at 27th and Lyndale S in Minneapolis.]