South Wild Rice Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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South Wild Rice Church
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St. John's as of August 31, 2014
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 Location in North Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Location | Intersection of U.S. Route 81 and Richland County Road 8 |
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| Nearest city | Galchutt, North Dakota |
| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1883 |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001345 |
| Added to NRHP | October 22, 1982 |
St. John's Lutheran Church of Richland County is an old church building. It was built in 1883 by a group of people who shared the same faith. This group was first called the South Wild Rice Lutheran Congregation. They officially formed their group on December 27, 1872.
In 1882, just before the church building started, the group changed its name to St. John's. This church is made of wood and still stands on its first foundation. The foundation is made of stones placed together without mortar. You can find the church east of the Wild Rice River. It is in the Red River Valley close to Galchutt, North Dakota.
Contents
The Church's Early Days
The South Wild Rice Congregation was made up of Norwegian immigrants. These families came to the area in the early 1870s. In October 1873, the group held its first yearly meeting. They decided to set aside two acres of land for their church. One acre was for the church building itself. The other acre was for a cemetery. The oldest date on a grave marker there is 1877.
In its first few years, the congregation met in people's homes. In 1874, they built a small log schoolhouse. This schoolhouse also served as their church until they could afford a separate building. The first schoolhouse was not very big, only about 18 by 22 feet. Later, it was moved to land just north of the church.
A Pastor's Important Role
The community was one of several groups served by Pastor J. A. Hellestvedt. He was the first Norwegian Lutheran pastor to live in North Dakota. Pastor Hellestvedt moved to the state in 1873. He helped many of these early settler communities.
A Historic Building
St. John's Church was built in 1883. A bell tower was added to the church in 1897. In 1982, the church was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historical site.
The church was listed because it shows the history of the first Norwegian Lutheran settlers. It also represents the early settlement of southeastern North Dakota. The church building has kept its original look better than other churches in the area.
The Church Today
The church building has not been used for regular services since 1956. However, it is still used for special events. Sometimes, there are worship services, baptisms, or weddings. People still bury their loved ones in the cemetery.
St. John's Church stands today as a reminder of the early pioneers. Even though regular services are not held, the church building and grounds are cared for. The descendants of these pioneers maintain the property. Since 1956, the people of Galchutt Lutheran Church have helped take care of it.
See Also
