In the summer of 1852, two New England pioneers, Robert McGrath and George Bertram, settled on the shores of Lake Minnetonka with a dream for the future. Clearing the land and building simple shelter, McGrath and Bertram soon were joined not only by their families, but also by a minister from Massachusetts, Charles A. Galpin. On July 17, 1853, the First Independent Church of Excelsior and Chanhassen was formally established with ten charter members and the Rev. Charles A. Galpin elected as the first pastor.
By 1855, the village of Excelsior had six frame houses, one log cabin, one saw mill, and a congregation of 37 members with no church building or meeting house. Instead, the members met in homes or stores in the village. With an emphasis on the value of education rather than having a church to meet in, Excelsior residents voted in 1857 to spend their time and money to establish a Christian school, the Excelsior Institute, with Charles Galpin as its head.
A name change was in order in 1869 as The First Congregational Church of Excelsior. It was incorporated with the State and, in 1871, work on its first church building was completed by the congregation. As the church grew in size, larger facilities were needed and today we worship in the third church built by this congregation.
