St. Olaf Kirke facts for kids
St. Olaf Kirke, often called The Rock Church, is a small Lutheran church. You can find it outside Cranfills Gap, Texas, in a quiet area called Norse. This church is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Contents
Church History
St. Olaf Kirke sits on a hill overlooking the Meridian Creek Valley. It's about four miles east of Cranfills Gap. The land for the church was bought in 1884 for just $25.
Building the Church
The church was designed and built in 1886 by a man named Andrew Mickelson. He worked with his brothers, Christian and Ole, and many local farmers. They used limestone rocks from the nearby hills to build the church.
This church was made for Norwegian settlers who farmed in the area. At first, the church floor was just dirt. The seats were simple planks placed on wooden barrels!
Growing as a Community
St. Olaf Kirke started as a part of the Our Savior's Lutheran Church. That church was only six miles away. As more people moved to the area, St. Olaf Kirke became its own independent church in 1902.
For many years, Norwegian was the main language used during church services. Some services were also held in English. The church was used for regular Sunday services until 1917. That's when a new church, St. Olaf Lutheran Church, was built in Cranfills Gap.
A Special Landmark
Today, St. Olaf Kirke is an important historical place. It means a lot to the families of the original Norwegian settlers. People still use the church for special events, like weddings and funerals.
Honored History
The Texas Historical Commission named the church a historical landmark in 1974. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's a very important building in American history.
Royal Visit
Because of the strong Norwegian heritage in the area, a very special guest visited. King Olav V of Norway came to the community on October 10, 1982. He was there to honor Cleng Peerson, who is buried in the Norse Cemetery. During his visit, the King also stopped by St. Olaf Kirke.
Gallery
-
Altar
-
Baptismal Font
-
Historical Marker
