Our Savior's Kvindherred Lutheran Church (Calamus, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Kvindherred Lutheran Church, School and Cemetery
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Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in 2014
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2589 190th Ave. Calamus, Iowa |
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| Area | 6.2 acres (2.5 ha) |
| Built | 1861 (old church/school) 1877 (church) |
| Architect | Cornelius Halvorson |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Norwegian Related Resources of Olive Township, Clinton County, Iowa MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000922 |
| Added to NRHP | August 15, 2000 |
Our Savior's Kvindherred Lutheran Church is a church located near Calamus, Iowa, in Clinton County, Iowa. This church, its old school building, and the church cemetery are considered a historic district. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in the year 2000 because of their important history.
Contents
History of the Church
The church community was started in 1861 by Norwegian immigrants. They came from a place called Hardanger Fjord in Norway. They named their new church after their home district, Kvinnherad.
At first, church services were held in people's homes or in local schools. In 1863, they started a special church school. The first church building was finished in 1865. John Johnson gave the land for the church, and his brother George gave land for the cemetery in 1865.
The Kvindherred church joined with two other churches in Iowa to share a pastor. Because the church community grew, a new, bigger church building was built in 1876. Sunday School classes began in 1891.
Over time, the church started using English more. By 1930, all services were in English. This was because some members didn't know Norwegian, and people wanted to use English more often.
In 1946, the church changed its name to Our Savior's Lutheran Church. This helped the church feel more connected to its new home in America. A few years later, some members decided to form a new church called Faith Lutheran in Calamus.
In 1972, Our Savior's and Faith Lutheran churches decided to work together. They now share a pastor and are known as the Calamus Lutheran Parish. The church is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), which is a large Lutheran group in the United States.
Original Church and School Building
The very first Kvindherred church building was built in 1865. It was used as both a church and a school. Around 1940, this building was moved to its current spot.
This old building is made of wood and is designed in the Greek Revival style. This style often uses columns and a triangular shape at the front, like old Greek temples. After the new church was built in 1877, this building continued to be used as the school. Inside, it still has the original wooden floors and pews from the newer church.
The Main Church Building
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The main church building you see today was built between 1876 and 1877. It's a rectangular building designed in the Gothic Revival style. This style was popular for churches built by Norwegian Lutherans in the Midwest.
In 1912, a full basement was added to the church. The front of the church has a tall bell tower with a pointed top, called a spire. The main entrance is at the bottom of this tower. In the early 1950s, the entrance area was made larger. At the same time, an addition was built onto the back of the church. The outside of the church, which was originally wood, is now covered with white metal siding.
The inside of the church was also updated in the 1950s. The pews (church benches) and the altar area were changed then. The fancy metal ceiling was added during the 1912 updates. However, the balcony and the detailed designs around the windows are still original from when the church was first built.
Church Cemetery
The cemetery is a rectangular piece of land near the church. The church officially received the land for the cemetery in 1865. However, the first burial was recorded in 1864, and the oldest grave marker dates back to 1861.
The cemetery used to have large cedar trees that made it stand out from the nearby farmland. It was also surrounded by a steel fence with a special gate. The gate had a sign that said "Kvindherred Cemetery." Now, there is a wooden sign along the road that says "Our Saviors Kvindherred." The cemetery is located about 1700 feet (518 meters) north of the church.
