1861 Episcopal clergy establish a preaching circuit across central Dakota County, which included Lakeville, where Daniel Thurston and sons John and Sumner had taken up homesteads in 1855. The Thurstons became ardent supporters, with the first recorded service being in Daniel Thurston's residence.
1867 By this year, Bishop Henry B. Whipple and other clergy were holding occasional services in Farmington and Episcopalian families began to talk "parish" and "building".
1871
July 24th Formation of a parish: The Church of the Advent.
August 12th Articles of Incorporation filed with the State of Minnesota.
September John H. Thurston, Clerk of the Vestry, began collecting subscriptions for a building.
October 20th Lots 2 and 3, Block 12, were purchased for $100 from Selah and Arabella Chamberlain of Cleveland, Ohio.
November Began construction of a 18' x 30' frame chapel with 10' x 12' chancel on a prairie stone foundation. Thurston supervised the volunteer labor that crafted the structure and much of its furnishings. Window frames, doors, and pew ends were ordered from a Minneapolis planing mill. Heating was provided by a flat-fronted iron stove. Lighting was by kerosene oil lamps.
November 25th Thurston ordered two memorial windows and one chancel (altar) window.
February 18, 1872 First service conducted by the Rev'd Charles Rollit, Missionary-in-Charge.
June 27, 1873 The chapel, being debt free, was consecrated by Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple in Farmington and the bell was hung in the belfry (the first bell in Farmington).
July 1873 The bell arrived--the first in Farmington--and was hung in the belfry.
1882 Young ladies from Rosemount held an ice cream social at Crystal Lake and netted $80 to purchase a reed pump organ.
1907 The Rev'd Doctor W. P. TenBroeck, professor at Seabury Divinity School in Faribault and part-time rector of the parish, led efforts to consstruct a 44' x 18' Guild Hall, which incorporated the small vesting room of 1871. It provided a 8' x 18' vestry room in which TenBroeck could stay overnight, and a 38' x 18' room to be used for Sunday school and Ladies' Guild activities.
1914 Chapel and Guild Hall were wired for electric lights.
1916 The original Gothic chancel window was replaced by a round stained glass window. The latter was given in memory of Dr. TenBroeck, who had died in 1913 after 51 years in the priesthood.
1924-1930 Decline in church membership due to closing of railroad yards and removal of many families led to the ceasing of regular Episcopal services. The property was maintained by surviving families and rented by Lutherans who eventually became Farmington Lutheran Church.
June 27, 1933 A congregation, revitalized by a number of new families, was led by Bishops McElwain and Keeler in a 60th anniversary celebration of the Consecration of the chapel and its reopening.
c. 1960 The church was rewired for side-lights and chandeliers by the A. C. Smith family.
1961-1962 Major renovations undertaken: replacement of the west wall of the chancel; removal of the oil heater in the chapel with a gas furnace installed in the Guild Hall; removal of the partition between sacristy/vestry and meeting rooms, paneling the walls, and lowering the ceiling. The enlarged room was dedicated the Griebie Room after the pioneer family which had provided several generations of faithful members.
1971 Creating of a Century Fund to enable major repairs to the roof, belfry, and foundation.
1972 Jerome Beisel of Hampton, experienced in restoring 19th century buildings, was contracted to make repairs. He had just taken down a vintage pine barn, which provided some lumber to replace rotted roof timbers. Iron brackets and tie rods were installed to strangthen the rafters. The belfry was rebuilt as a memorial to Jessie Briebie Paulette by her children.
1973-1975 On July 27th Bishop Kellogg officiated at the Consecration anniversary service. Earlier that month, younger people of the congregation had excavated by hand for a new foundation. During the summer, water and sewer were brought into the building, and the Griebie Room was remodeled to provide space for a kitchen and lavatory. Plans for a 25' x 50' parish hall had been drawn up by architect Michael Sly, a member of the congregation. When he and his wife died in an automobile accident, Sly's firm of Stegner, Hendrikson, McNutt & Sullivan gave architectural oversight to its construction to contractor Emery Hall.
July 27th, 1976 Dedication by the Rector, Richard K. Smith, and October 26th consecration by Bishop McNairy of the Michael and Lisbeth Sly Room, to be used for education and fellowship, and now providing space for worship.
1980-1982 Increased membership and activity led to the addition of two rooms behind the Griebie Room to provide for a preschool/nursery and an office.
2007 Construction of the labyrinth has begun. Renovation is underway to restore the steeple, roof, and stained glass in the historic chapel, which is listed in the National Historic Register. Donations are welcome.