Kristdala Forsamlingen
Christdala Swedish Lutheran Church (Den Svenska Evangeliska Lutherska Kristdala Forsamlingen) in rural Rice County, Minnesota near Lonsdale and the unincorporated town of Millersburg.
I also have family connections here. My Swedish ancestors operated a sorghum mill in Millersburg in the 1870's and 1880's and attended Christdala. My great-great uncle, George Berry, was the organist here for a few years, too.
The church was built in 1878 next to the home of Peter Youngquist. On September 7, 1876, Mr. Youngquist drove a man named Nicolaus Gustafson into Northfield. Gustafson was shot by Cole Younger during the Jesse James gang's famous raid on the Northfield Bank. After the shooting, a group of Swedish settlers met at Youngquist's house and decided to build a church here.
"The simple massing and style of this late Gothic Revival church are typical of the small, wood-frame country churches found in the Småland, Blekinge and Skåne provinces of Sweden. Built by the first Swedish immigrants to Rice County, the church stands as a lasting reminder of the broad impact of the Swedish Lutheran church in many Minnesota communities." (Minnesota Historical Society)
This church is on the National Register of Historic Places.
NRHP Reference#: 95000617 Added to NRHP: May 18, 1995
Visit the Christdala Web page for more on this lovely site.
Kristdala Forsamlingen
Christdala Swedish Lutheran Church (Den Svenska Evangeliska Lutherska Kristdala Forsamlingen) in rural Rice County, Minnesota near Lonsdale and the unincorporated town of Millersburg.
I also have family connections here. My Swedish ancestors operated a sorghum mill in Millersburg in the 1870's and 1880's and attended Christdala. My great-great uncle, George Berry, was the organist here for a few years, too.
The church was built in 1878 next to the home of Peter Youngquist. On September 7, 1876, Mr. Youngquist drove a man named Nicolaus Gustafson into Northfield. Gustafson was shot by Cole Younger during the Jesse James gang's famous raid on the Northfield Bank. After the shooting, a group of Swedish settlers met at Youngquist's house and decided to build a church here.
"The simple massing and style of this late Gothic Revival church are typical of the small, wood-frame country churches found in the Småland, Blekinge and Skåne provinces of Sweden. Built by the first Swedish immigrants to Rice County, the church stands as a lasting reminder of the broad impact of the Swedish Lutheran church in many Minnesota communities." (Minnesota Historical Society)
This church is on the National Register of Historic Places.
NRHP Reference#: 95000617 Added to NRHP: May 18, 1995
Visit the Christdala Web page for more on this lovely site.