Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | E side of Capitol Hill Rd., .5 mi. N of jct. with ME 161, New Sweden, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1880 |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000608 |
| Added to NRHP | June 20, 1997 |
The Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church is a special old church in New Sweden, Maine. It was built by Swedish immigrants who came to the area a long time ago. This beautiful church has been a central part of the community since the late 1800s. It is named after a famous Swedish king, Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
Discovering the Church Building
The Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church stands on Capitol Hill Road in New Sweden, Maine. It is a one-story building made of wood. The outside is covered in a material called stucco. Its windows are tall and pointed, a style known as Gothic.
The church has a two-part square tower. The top part holds a bell. This bell tower has rounded openings. An eight-sided steeple sits on top of the tower. A cross crowns the very top of the steeple. The main entrance has double doors. Above these doors is a stained-glass window. It has a roughly triangular shape. A small hall extends from the back of the church. This is Svea Hall, the parish hall. Another smaller section extends to the east.
Inside, the church has mostly white plastered walls. The pews, where people sit, are dark wood. The altar area is special. It is separated by a carved railing. The wall behind the altar has a large painting. It shows Christ at Gethsemane. Svea Hall was added later, in 1912. Its walls and ceilings have decorative pressed metal.
A Look at the Church's History
The first Swedish immigrants arrived in this area in 1870. They came as part of a state program. This program encouraged people to settle in northern Maine. These early settlers started Lutheran church services in 1871. By 1874, they began planning to build a church.
The main part of the church was finished in 1880. It was officially opened in 1881. It was first called the First Swedish Evangelical Church in Maine. In 1896, its name changed. It became the Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church. This honored King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, who lived in the 1600s. The town of New Sweden was officially formed in 1895.
The church's parsonage, where the minister lived, was built in 1886. The church hall was added between 1911 and 1912. The inside of the church was greatly updated in 1930. At that time, the outside was also changed. It was originally covered in clapboard. It was then redone with stucco. A small addition was made to the east side in the 1940s.
In 2003, the church received national attention. Several people became very sick after a church service. One person sadly died. This happened because something harmful was added to the coffee. A week later, a person from the church passed away. They left a note saying they were responsible. The note mentioned reasons related to church matters. Another person who was affected died several years later. This was due to health problems from the incident.
See also
