HOME
Events
Civic
Gps.
Government
City
Library
Chamber
Religion
Health
School
AHS Alumni
Advocate
History
Visitors
Other
HOME > History > History Club > Pastor Mike Nelson - Grace Lutheran Church
History of Grace
Lutheran Church
Presentation to the Annandale History
Club
March 5, 2007
Pastor Mike Nelson
The
hosts for Annandale History Clubs visit to Grace Lutheran Church in French
Lake Township were Pastor Mike Nelson, Russell and LaVina Opsahl and Virginia
Anderson.
Pastor
Nelson gave the history and tour of the church.
The
history of Grace Lutheran Church started in 1868 when Pastor J. S. Nilson of
Stockholm Lutheran Church south of Cokato made visits to the area to minister to
settlers. A new Lutheran church was
started in Cokato in 1869, but this was still considered too far to travel.
In 1870 an organizational meeting was held in French Lake Township two
miles northwest of the present North Crow River Church at the home of John
Sundin near the Crow River. The
newly organized congregation was called the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church
at Crow River. Rev. Lagerstrom, who
served the Stockholm Church, was called to make regular visits once a month.
In 1870 a log church was built about 300 feet west of the present North
Crow River Church at Knapp. In 1881
a new frame building was built, and the present North Crow River Church was
built in 1903.
Rev.
Lagerstrom served 1870-1872. The
following pastors divided their time between the church at Cokato and North Crow
River Church: Rev. Fred Peterson
(1872-1877), Rev. L. Hocanzon (1877-1883), and Rev. J. A. Levine (1883-1893).
In 1893-1900 Rev. Erik Norsen served as the first resident pastor at
North Crow River. 1896-1904, North
Crow River's pastor also served another Swedish congregation, Ostmark Lutheran
Church in Meeker County.
In
1890 there were many settlers on the north side of the Crow River.
There was no bridge, and at times it was difficult to cross the river to
get to church. Pioneers could cross
when the water wasn't too high, the ice was safe, or by walking across a
hanging bridge. In 1890 the church
built a schoolhouse north of the river (four miles from North Crow River
Church), and in 1893 the church board permitted Pastor Eric Norsen to conduct
services and meetings there twice a month. A
parochial school was held during the summer.
Catechism was taught in Swedish, so it was also a Swedish language
course.
On
January 7, 1898, twelve men signed a petition to be separated from North Crow
River Church. They proposed to
organize their own congregation belonging to the Augustana Synod and to be one
pastorate with North Crow River congregation.
North Crow River granted permission at a special meeting on January 17,
1898. The two churches share a
pastor to this day, and in 1968 Redeemer Lutheran Church of Kingston also joined
the parish.
The
twenty families present at the organizational meeting for the new church were as
follows:
Mr.
and Mrs. Nils Nilson
Mr.
and Mrs. Carl Nilson
Mr.
and Mrs. Jens Tomte
Mr.
and Mrs. N. N. Dokken
Mr.
and Mrs. C. M. Monson
Mr.
and Mrs. N. P. Utterberg
Mr.
and Mrs. N. O. Dahlman
Mr.
and Mrs. Louis Askim
Mr.
and Mrs. John Ahlquist
Mr.
and Mrs. Henrik Person
Mr.
ane Mrs. Per Person
Mr.
and Mrs. Anders Becklund
Mr.
and Mrs. Olof Palmquist
Mr.
and Mrs. P. O. Berg
Mr.
and Mrs. A. P. Sandberg
Mr.
and Mrs. Erick Person
Mr.
and Mrs. Hans Larson
Mr.
and Mrs. Peter Johnson
Mr.
and Mrs. Ole Danielson
Ole Asp
Note:
C. M. Monson and Mr. and Mr. Olof Palmquist were also charter members of
North Crow River in 1970.
The
first officers were Carl Nilson, N. P. Utterberg, N. N. Dokken, Ole Asp, and P.
O. Berg. Swedish Evangelical
Lutheran French Lake Congregation was the name chosen for the new congregation.
The congregation asked North Crow River to give them the schoolhouse and the
land belonging to it and a part interest in the parsonage at North Crow River.
It was also decided that their share of the pastor's salary would be
$100, half paid April 1 and half on November 1.
Charter member Nels Dahlman built the pulpit, altar and communion rail.
The pulpit was much higher, but has been cut down.
Highlights:
1898
- French Lake Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church organized.
Worship services held at former church schoolhouse converted to a church.
1900
- 16 x 20 schoolroom was added to the south side of the church and the land
around the church cleared and leveled off.
1904
- Steeple added to north end of the church.
1907
- Balcony and narthex added. More
church-like windows installed.
1914
- New floor in church, funding provided by the ladies of the church.
1917
- Gas light installed in church costing $50.00
WWI
- Eleven young men from the congregation served in WWI.
All returned safely.
1925
- Extensive repairs; metal ceiling and altar painting installed.
1927
- Church raised, basement put in. Furnace
installed.
1928
- Pastor Seastrand started a church paper.
WWII
- 18 young men from the church served in WWII; all returned; 3 wounded; Morgan
Walberg was wounded severely.
1947
- Electricity became available at the church.
1948 - 50th Anniversary celebration.
Committee: John Erickson, Mr.
and Mrs. John Peterson, Mrs. Levi Lindquist, Mrs. William Paulson, John Olson,
Church Board, Pastor A. C. Edstrom.
1953
- French Lake Lutheran renamed Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church.
1956
- New furnace.
1968
- Redeemer Lutheran Church in Kingston became part of a three-point parish.
1971
- Indoor bathrooms added. (Outhouses
are still on church property in 2006.)
1973 - 75th Anniversary celebration.
1986
- Became part of ELCA when Lutheran synods merged.
1996
- Improvements Stained glass windows installed, pews shortened and
refinished, new carpet, interior woodwork refinished, walls and ceiling
repainted.
1998 - 100th Anniversary celebrated June 27-28, 1998.
Centennial committee: Diane Swendra, Doreen Erickson, Pat Salmela, Gordy
Erickson, Mel Swendra, chairman.
Grace
Lutheran Church Pastors:
1898-1901
Rev. Eric Norsen
1901-1905
Rev. A. J. Elmer
1905-1917
Rev. Alfred Melin
1917-1924
Rev. E. A. Bongfeldt
1924-1928
Rev. Svante Udden
1928-1940
A. F. Seastrand
1940-1945
Rev. Arvid H. Larson
1946-1957
Rev. A. C. Edstrom
1957-1965
Rev. Ernest V. Olson
1965-1989
Rev. Theodore M. Lee
1990-1995
Rev. Jeffrey A. Blank
1995-1999
Rev. Eric Bakken
1999-2002
Rev. Frank Schmeling
2003-Present
Rev. Michael Nelson
The
longest serving pastor was Ted Lee (1965-1988).
English
services were adopted in the early 1920s. Swedish
services continued to be held two afternoons each month for some time.
Church attendance is currently about 25 on Sundays.
The three churches rotate starting times of
8:30, 9:45 and 11:00 a.m. There
is a combined parish Sunday school currently meeting at Redeemer.
Pastor Mike Nelson has served for the past four years.
Grace
and North Crow River Church records through 1970 are available on microfilm at
the Cokato Historical Society.