Renner Lutheran Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Renner Lutheran Church |
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The church in 2011, seen from the east
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| Country | United States |
| Denomination | ECLA |
| History | |
| Founded | 1868 |
| Architecture | |
| Years built | 1878 |
Renner Lutheran Church is a very old and important church in Renner, South Dakota. It is also known as Nidaros Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. This church is so special that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is known as the Renner Lutheran Sanctuary on that list. Many people believe it is the oldest church still open and used in all of South Dakota!
Contents
The Church's Journey Through Time
How the Church Started
The church began in 1868. It was first called Nidaros Church. Norwegian immigrants, John and Kirsti Thompson, held the first services in their sod home. A sod home was a house built from blocks of earth and grass.
Later, a church building was put up on the open prairie. This spot was about 3 miles south of Baltic, South Dakota.
Rebuilding After a Storm
Sadly, a strong wind storm destroyed the first church building. But the community did not give up! They rebuilt the church in 1878. The original church had a very tall steeple, about 100 feet high. People thought this tall steeple might have caused the church to fall in the storm. So, when they rebuilt it, they chose a shorter steeple.
More churches were built in the area around this time. This was because the Big Sioux River often flooded. It made it hard for people to travel to one central church.
Moving to New Homes
The church building was moved to Baltic around 1911 or 1912. Baltic did not have its own church at that time. So, the Nidaros Church filled an important need there.
Then, in 1939, the church moved a second time. It was brought to Renner, South Dakota, where it stands today. This church has been open and used for over 125 years. This makes it one of the oldest churches still operating in South Dakota.
Important Features and New Name
The church's beautiful altar was built in 1886. It is still a main part of the church's worship area. The church is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
In 2009, the church changed its name to Renner Lutheran Church. This was done to avoid confusion. There were other churches nearby called East Nidaros and West Nidaros. The new name helped everyone know which church was which.
More to Explore
- List of the oldest churches in the United States
- List of the oldest buildings in South Dakota
External Links
