Calvary Presbyterian Church - Milwaukee, WI
N 43° 02.310 W 087° 55.455
16T E 424712 N 4765504
Calvary Presbyterian Church at 935 W Wisconsin Ave in Milwaukee, WI was built in 1870.
Waymark Code: WM5QJ0
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 02/02/2009
Views: 5
From the church web site (
visit link) :
"Milwaukee originally developed along a divided front. The founders of the City settled along the shores of Lake Michigan and focused primarily on the establishment of trade and industry. Others settled west of the Milwaukee River and focused on the development of agriculture. The River served as a physical barrier between differing mindsets. The people of Calvary assembled in 1868 with a desire to bridge that gap and establish a presence west of the River. The building was constructed in 1870 along the Grand Avenue of Milwaukee. Diversity and strength of character were foundational traits in the Calvary congregation as people of different mindsets gathered to worship God and serve each other.
Calvary thrived into the 1970’s. Completion of the I-43 expressway in the late 1950’s led to a steady decline in membership and attendance as downtown families moved to the suburbs and beyond. The building slowly fell into disrepair. In 1994, a newly hired Pastor Dee Talley stepped up to the Calvary pulpit and looked down on a congregation of eight.
What followed truly points to the strength of character and dedication of the people of Calvary. In 1997 the Calvary sanctuary was expansively redesigned in an effort to fit the space to the people. Pastor Dee incorporated a labyrinth into the sanctuary floor. Calvary’s current pastor, Mark McDonough, arrived shortly thereafter, and together they worked to bring unique mission and outreach programs, such as the Calvary Canoe workshop and the Lego project, into the space. Soon after other alternative worship styles, such as Taize and The Ave, found a home at Calvary."