City of Farmington

Church of the Advent

Church of the Advent 412 Oak Street

Built about 1871, and consecrated in 1873, the Episcopal Church of the Advent is a product of the dissemination of the Gothic Revival aesthetic in rural Minnesota and represents one of Farmington’s best preserved specimens of nineteenth century architecture. The design appears to have been adapted from a plan published by Richard Upjohn in 1852, which Bishop Henry Whipple used as the prototype for small Protestant Episcopal churches built in Minnesota during his tenure (1859-1901). The interior design of the original sanctuary also exhibits the distinctive features associated with this style, as well as fixtures unique to this property.
The building has had two major additions; in 1905 the vestry was enlarged by the addition of a frame guild hall, and in 1975 a large addition was constructed at the rear of the property.
The additions are compatible with the original church building and the 1905 construction has acquired historical significance in its own right.
The church is an established and familiar community landmark in the Oak Street neighborhood, where it complements and enhances the historic character of adjacent older homes. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 31, 1979. On October 6, 2003, it was designated a Farmington Heritage Landmark.
Designated on 10/06/03