Immanuel Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Immanuel Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | W. Second St., E. side, Kimballton, Iowa |
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| Area | 2.1 acres (0.85 ha) |
| Built | 1904 |
| Built by | Hansen, Niels; Rasmussen, Jens |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Queen Anne |
| Part of | Kimballton West 2nd – West 3rd Street Residential District (ID95001017) |
| MPS | Ethnic Historic Settlement of Shelby and Audubon Counties MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001462 |
| Added to NRHP | October 3, 1991 |
The Immanuel Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church is an old and important church located on West Second Street in Kimballton, Iowa. Kimballton is a small town in Audubon County, Iowa. This church was built a long time ago, in 1904. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. This means it is a special building protected for its historical value. Later, in 1995, it became part of the Kimballton West 2nd – West 3rd Street Residential District.
The Church's Story
This church sits on a hill overlooking the east side of Kimballton. It is one of the best-preserved historic Danish churches in the area. This includes both Audubon and nearby Shelby County, Iowa. The church is important because it shows the history of the Danish Lutheran Church. It represents a specific group called the Grundtvigian synod. This group formed after a big split in the church in 1894. The Immanuel Church helped the Danish community in Kimballton grow and develop. It is the best example of this special Grundtvigian church group in the two-county area.
Special Features Inside
Inside the church, there is a statue of Christ on the altar. This statue is a copy of a famous one found in the Vor Frue Kirke in Copenhagen, Denmark. A famous Danish artist named Bertel Thorvaldsen created the original statue.
Who Built the Church?
Two skilled builders from West Denmark, Wisconsin, designed and built this church. Their names were Niels Hansen and Jens Rasmussen. They had previously built a similar Grundtvigian church in West Denmark. That church burned down in the 1930s, but old photos still exist. Pastor Jens Gregersen brought Hansen and Rasmussen to Kimballton. He had also come from West Denmark. Niels Hansen drew the plans for the church, making it look like the one in West Denmark. Jens Rasmussen created many of the beautiful parts inside. He built the pulpit, the altar, and the communion railing.
Another Local Church
About a mile or two from Kimballton, there is another church called the Bethany Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church. It was built in 1898 and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This church was on the other side of the church split.
