Calvary Methodist Church, originally known as Western Avenue Methodist Church, was established in 1885. The Methodists, too, were reaching out to immigrants dissatisfied with their national churches. Particular success was realized among Scandinavians and Germans. One of the first Swedish congregations in the Twin Cities was the Scandinavian Methodist Episcopal Church of St. Paul established in 1854 by Swedes, Danes, and Norwegians. As Calvary’s congregation grew, a new church was erected at the corner of Irving and Western Avenues North and remained in that location until 1910 when a new brick and stucco church was built at 1001 Penn Avenue North. The congregation remained there throughout the years when its surrounding neighborhood underwent tremendous changes. The building is still standing, although now used by a different congregation, and is right across the street from John Hay Grade School (now demolished) and Lincoln Junior High School.
