Leer Lutheran Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Norwegian Lutheran Church Complex
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 10430 S. Leer Rd., near Leer in Long Rapids Township |
|---|---|
| Built | 1899 |
| Built by | Joseph F. Bammel |
| Architectural style | vernacular Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 13000478 |
| Added to NRHP | July 9, 2013 |
The Leer Lutheran Church, also known as the Norwegian Lutheran Church, is a special old church in Long Rapids Township, Michigan. It's located on South Leer Road, near the small community of Leer. This church isn't just a building; it's part of a complex that includes a parish house (a community building), a cemetery, and a pavilion. What's cool about it is that it looks almost exactly like it did when it was first built! Inside, you can see a beautiful painting by Sarah Kirkeberg Raugland and unique metal designs in the parish house. Because of its history and how well it's been kept, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Settlers and Community
By the 1870s, many people from Norway had moved to Alpena. A lot of them came from a town called Lier, Norway. These new settlers worked in the lumber industry. With the money they earned, they bought land nearby. In 1879, they started a new community called Leer.
Starting the Church Society
In 1882, the Norwegian Lutheran Church Society was formed in Leer. This happened at the home of Andreas and Gunhild Christopherson. A pastor named Peder lsberg, who led the Norwegian Lutheran church in Alpena, agreed to visit Leer four times a year for services. The Leer group met in a local school. They also started saving money to build their own church.
Building the Church
In 1883, the church group bought a piece of land for just $1.00. The deal was that the land had to be used for a church and a cemetery. The first person was buried in the cemetery in 1885. By 1898, they had almost enough money. A committee was chosen to plan the church building. The final design was based on a German Lutheran church in Krakow Township.
The first stone of the church was placed on September 7, 1899. A carpenter named Joseph F. Bammel built the rest of the church for $3,000. It was finished in 1900.
Additions and Modernizations
In 1916, a parish house was built for $800. This building became the social and learning center for the church members. In the 1930s and 1940s, the church was updated. It got electricity, a water system, and better heating. Pretty stained glass windows were put in during 1941 and 1942. A new part was added to the parish house in 1963. The church is still used for services today.
What the Church Looks Like
The Church Building
The Norwegian Lutheran Church is a rectangular building made of wood. It's built in a style called vernacular Gothic Revival. This means it uses some ideas from old Gothic churches but in a simpler way. The church is about 50 feet long and 31 feet wide. It has a pointed roof and a foundation made of stone and concrete.
A tall bell tower, about 63 feet high, sticks out from the front of the church. The main entrance is at the bottom of this tower, reached by concrete steps. Above the entrance, there's a single stained glass window. Similar windows are found along the longer sides of the church. The church was first built with local materials. Now, it has white vinyl siding on the outside.
Inside the Church
When you go inside, there's a small entrance area. This area also has a small room for crying babies and a restroom. Beyond this is the main part of the church, called the nave. The nave has two rows of eight wooden benches (pews) with an aisle down the middle. At the front are the chancel, the altar, and the pulpit. These are next to the pastor's dressing room and another exit. There's also a balcony at the back of the church. The original wooden floor is now covered with carpet.
One of the most interesting things inside is the altar painting. It's called Crucifixion and was painted by Sarah Kirkeberg Raugland. It's attached to the wall behind the altar.
The Parish House
Next to the church is a two-story parish house. It's also made of wood and has a special roof shape called a gambrel roof. It's about 40 feet long and 27 feet wide. This building also has vinyl siding. Its main entrance has ten concrete steps. A newer, single-story part was added to one side.
The top floor of the old part of the parish house is one big open room. It looks much like it did when it was built. The walls and ceiling are covered with fancy metal panels that have designs pressed into them. These metal panels form a lower wall section and a top border, with different patterns above the border. A wooden staircase connects the top floor to the bottom. The bottom floor has been updated. It has a kitchen, a dining and social area, a bathroom, and a small office.
Cemetery and Grounds
The cemetery is in front of the church property. It has different types of gravestones, including upright ones, flat ones, and tall, thin ones called obelisks. These are made of granite and marble. Various trees like cedars, yews, and pines, along with shrubs, are spread around the property. There's also a modern pavilion near the church. This is an open-air building with a roof supported by wooden posts on a concrete pad. It has an enclosed kitchen and utility area at one end. This pavilion is new and replaced the old horse stalls.
