We would like to thank Pastor Don Lundborg for gathering the following information!

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The original parsonage located at 1645 Charles Av

This house was the home of Rev. and Mrs. J.D. Williams. They were instrumental in the birth of the Christian and Missionary Alliance of this area.

(The parsonage as a ministry house for college age / young adult guys that are preparing for or involved in the ministry here.)

J.D. WILLIAMS

The Alliance Training Home

This was the birthplace of what is now called... CROWN COLLEGE

Located on Sherburne Avenue - on the South side of the church

This picture was taken February of 1998

It is now an apartment dwelling

• The St. Paul Branch of the Christian and Missionary Alliance had long been concerned about the problem of not having a building or property of their own in St. Paul, from which they could direct their evangelizing efforts in that area. In the Spring of 1916, J.D. Williams, together with A.D. Jackson, G.L. Morgan, and E.C. Swanson, viewed a large cow pasture at the corner of Fry Street and Sherburne Avenue . It was here that they were chased away by a lady grazing her cow. Later, we are told, she came to trust Christ as her Savior. With confidence in God they knelt in the snow praying and claiming in faith that portion of ground for the work of God. They received permission to use the property, erected a large tent, and began to hold meetings here in the summer of 1916. In October of that year, the lot was purchased and with $28.00 in the building fund, a foundation was laid for the building that was completed in October of 1917, known as the Alliance Training Home.

This picture was taken when it was in operation

• On the ground floor a dining room seating 150, a kitchen, and a laundry were built. Other classes were held in the dining room. Eventually the third and fourth floors were assigned as student dorm rooms with a total capacity of 35. The indebtedness of the property was $6,000.00 in 1919. A bit later, in the early twenties, an addition was completed just to the north of the original structure (across the alley from the Tabernacle). It consisted of an addition of the chapel, dining room and a baptistry. The addition cost $15,000.00

THE "GLORY BARN"

Doors opened on July 9, 1918

A building seating 2300

Located on the corner of Charles and Fry

• On July 9,1918, The Gospel Tabernacle of St. Paul, also known as the Alliance Gospel Tabernacle and "Glory Barn" opened its doors. It was a huge shell of a building with a high platform, a dirt floor covered with wood shavings, and primitive wooden benches that seated 2,300. Double doors opened to Fry Street . There was no plumbing, but the bathrooms and baptistry were available at the Training School next to the church. The cost of the tabernacle construction was $9,000.00.

• Dedicatory evangelistic services began on July 9, 1918, and continued the entire month with such great evangelists of that day as Paul Rader, then Pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, Gregory Mantle, and Jospeh Hogue.

• J.D. Williams said of this month of meetings: "The new Gospel Tabernacle has been open only one month but during this time hundreds of souls have knelt at the altar for salvation and sanctification and at times the building has been crowded to its utmost capacity which means an audience of over 2,000 people... As the ancient tent in the wilderness was known as "the Tabernacle of Witness" so we also are praying that God will make this building a "Tabernacle of Witness" and a monument of answered prayer. That hundreds here may be truly born again and anointed with the Holy Spirit and sent out as witnesses into the needy parts of the homeland and also to the uttermost parts of the world."

Challenged by Change!

• The 1930's were marked by two significant events. First, in 1935, the Alliance Training School moved to new quarters on Englewood Avenue ; and second, the Tabernacle was torn down in 1936, officially ending the "Glory Barn Era". The Tabernacle was replaced in 1937 by a new building which is still being used today. The church then became known as " Simpson Memorial Church ".

• Physically the new building had many advantages over the old "Glory Barn". Not only was it more comfortable, especially in the winter months, but it also contained the best in modern conveniences together with a nickel plated baptistry. Yet, the "Glory Barn" had a certain mystery and uniqueness of its own. It seemed to be symbolic of the joy, freedom, and excitement of worshipping God. There was a unexplainable association that people had with the "Glory barn" that was not carried over into the new building.