Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church (Ham Lake, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church
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The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church from the northeast
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| Location | 2200 Swedish Dr., NE Ham Lake, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1872 |
| Architect | Per August Gustafson |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001189 |
| Added to NRHP | December 26, 1979 |
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church is a very old and important building in Anoka County, Minnesota. You can find it at 2332 Swedish Drive in Ham Lake, Minnesota. This church was built in 1872 and designed by an architect named Per August Gustafson. It is known for its Late Victorian style. Because of its history, the church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the church is cared for by the people of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in East Bethel, Minnesota. It is also sometimes called Our Saviour's Lutheran Church of Ham Lake. Both churches are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
This church has a long and interesting history, starting way back in 1872. A special sign at the front of the church tells its story, which comes from old records and people's memories.
Why the Church Was Built
The land for the church was given by Johan and Fredrika Magnuson. They donated the land after their daughters, Alida and Emilia, sadly passed away from typhoid fever. They realized there was a need for a cemetery. At first, their daughters were buried in their front yard. But once the church was finished, their coffins were moved. They became the very first graves in the new church cemetery.
Early Days and Challenges
When the church was first built, there were no pastors living nearby. This meant that whenever families wanted to have a church service, someone had to travel all the way to Anoka. They would pick up a pastor and bring him back to Ham Lake for the service. This shows how dedicated the early church members were!
The Church Today
Over the years, the church community grew. In 1964, the main church group moved to a new building. However, the original "Old Church" is still used for special worship services at different times of the year. The people who attend now often call this historic building Our Saviour's Chapel. It remains a very important part of the history of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.
