Trondhjem Norwegian Lutheran Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Trondhjem Norwegian Lutheran Church
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Trondhjem Norwegian Lutheran Church from the west-southwest
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 8501 Garfield Avenue S., Webster Township, Minnesota |
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| Nearest city | Lonsdale, Minnesota |
| Built | 1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000945 |
| Added to NRHP | September 7, 2001 |
The Trondhjem Norwegian Lutheran Church is an old and important church building in Webster Township, Rice County, Minnesota. It was first built in 1878. Later, much of it was rebuilt in 1899. This historic church is located about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Minnesota State Highway 19. You can find it at 8501 Garfield Avenue S, southeast of Lonsdale, Minnesota.
Contents
The Church's Early Days
How the Church Started
Norwegian immigrants started the Throndhjem's Church on May 15, 1876. They named it after the historic city of Trondheim in Norway. The name also honored the Trondelag province. The first church building was put up in 1878. It stood on the very same spot where the current church is today.
Building Styles and Changes
The Trondhjem Church mixes different building styles. It has parts of Greek Revival and Gothic Revival designs. It also includes ideas from the old stave churches of Norway. The first church, built in 1878, had a cross-shaped floor plan.
The chancel (the area around the altar) of the current church is from that first building. In 1899, most of the original church was taken down. This was done to build a larger church. The old chancel was kept and became part of the new, bigger building. Many parts of the new church show signs of being used before. These pieces were likely reused from the first church.
The Church Today
A New Home for the Congregation
In 1988, the Trondhjem Lutheran Congregation moved. They left this historic building for a new church. Their new church is located only half a mile away.
Saving the Old Church
The old church building has been carefully restored. This work was done by the Trondhjem Community Preservation Society, Inc. This group works hard to raise money for the church. They host a winter concert each year. They also have an ice cream social in July. Another event is the Syttende Mai celebration, which is Norway's Constitution Day.
Restoring the Art Inside
The restoration of the old church was finished in 2002. The inside of the 1899 church was once decorated with special paintings. These were hand-painted and stenciled designs. They used a type of paint called Casein paint. These original paintings were found under layers of tin, paint, and wallpaper. The paintings were carefully fixed during the restoration. If parts of the art were missing, they were copied to match the original design.
A National Landmark
In 2001, the Trondhjem Norwegian Lutheran Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important places in the United States. It was added because of its historical importance. The United States Department of Interior and the United States Park Service manage this list. Also on this list is the cemetery across the road from the church. This cemetery was started even before the church building was built.
More to Read
- Ronning, N. N. (1947) Pioneer Sketches from Webster, Rice County, Minnesota (Minneapolis: Ludvig Broten)
- Rice County Historical Society (1987) Portraits and Memories of Rice County, Minnesota (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co.)
