[Magdalen] End of an Era.

[Cantor03 at aol.com]

I have learned that venerable parish of Saint Paul's-on-the-Hill, Saint  
Paul, MN
USA will close after the last Solemn High Mass this Easter Sunday.
 
The parish has suffered with the plethora of TEC parishes strung out  along
the grand Summit Avenue which runs some five miles from the  Mississippi
River to the edge of downtown Saint Paul at Cathedral Hill.
 
There were no less than five Episcopal churches along this route  in
1960.  The first (Christ Church) a wonderful collegiate gothic  structure
was razed secondary to the building of I-35E at the edge of downtown.
 
Then there are Saint John the Evangelist, another gothic jewel, 
Saint Clement's, Saint Paul's on-the-Hill, and finally, near the  River,
Saint Mary's.
 
I cut my liturgical teeth on Saint Paul's on-the-Hill.  It's where I  was
introduced to plainsong and the sung Proper (even though it was out
of the Burgess reduction to psalmtones), and it is where I was  married
and also my daughter, Wendy.
 
What's left of the congregation will have the three remaining TEC
churches from which to choose.
 
The building is an attractive tan Minnesota stone structure, with a
wonderful tower.  The interior boasts some good glass, a rood  crucifixion
group, and a carved wooden reredos for the Lady Chapel, among other
accoutrements.   
 
I'd hate to see the building razed, but that is always on the back  burner.
 
 
David Strang.