Mission Evangelical Free Church
701 7th Street North
Wilton, Burleigh County, North Dakota 58579
701 7th Street North
Wilton, Burleigh County, North Dakota 58579
1895-Pioneers meeting in prairie homes organized The Swedish Evangelical Mission Church; 26 Members.
1899-Church building erected S.W. corner, Section 34, Grass Lake Township, eat of Wilton.
1915-New building replaced first church, same site.
1934-Present Sunday School started. (Throughout these years pastor service was intermittent.)
1947-Resident Free Church pastor installed Present Women's Missionary Society organized.
1948-Basement added.
1949-Electricity replaced carbide lights. Soon oil furnace replaced coal heater.
1952-Affiliated with The Evangelical Free Church of American; 35 members.
1953-Parsonage purchased.
1956-Church remodeled.
1975-New Parsonage dedicated.
1978-New Church building erected in north Wilton; 54 members.
Information - back of Mission Evangelical Free Church Wilton, North Dakota 1889-1978 plate
1899-Church building erected S.W. corner, Section 34, Grass Lake Township, eat of Wilton.
1915-New building replaced first church, same site.
1934-Present Sunday School started. (Throughout these years pastor service was intermittent.)
1947-Resident Free Church pastor installed Present Women's Missionary Society organized.
1948-Basement added.
1949-Electricity replaced carbide lights. Soon oil furnace replaced coal heater.
1952-Affiliated with The Evangelical Free Church of American; 35 members.
1953-Parsonage purchased.
1956-Church remodeled.
1975-New Parsonage dedicated.
1978-New Church building erected in north Wilton; 54 members.
Information - back of Mission Evangelical Free Church Wilton, North Dakota 1889-1978 plate
The history of the Mission Evangelical Free Church, five miles east of Wilton, dates back to December 1894. Through the efforts of Mr. J. E. Ecklund, the Swedish Alliance Mission of St. Paul sent two young ladies, Miss Helma Simonson, and Miss Hanna Rosengren, to do missionary work in the community east of Wilton. They were assisted by lay pastors 0. Engdahl and Erick Ghylin. The Swedish Mission Church was organized in January 1895, at the Erick Ghylin home. Charter members and those who joined soon after include J. E. Ecklund, Mr. and Mrs. Erick Ghylin, Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Nelson; Mr. and Mrs. Nils Erickson, Axel Hedstrom, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar W. Ecklund, Charles J. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. A. I. Asplund, Amond, Andrew and Gabriel Thor, Mr. and Mrs. John Engstrom, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Strom, John Hanson, John Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. John Dahlgren and Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Backman.
One of the early ministers was a man known in the community as "Preacher Larson". In the spring of 1898 Mr. C. M. Johnson, a colleges student from Chicago, was called as pastor. In the spring of 1899, the first church building was erected on property donated by the Engstrom family. The present church, erected on the same site, was built in 1916. The Women's Missionary Society was organized in 1947. In May 1952, the church was reorganized and affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America. Pastors who have served the congregation include C. Edward Johnson, Thure Johnson, S. C. Theodore Ramsey, C. C. Carlberg, Joel C. Nordlund, Berglund, Kasper Benson, J. W. Fjellstedt, Warren Wedan, Gordon Langmede, Lawrence Palmquist, Clifford Green, Milton Kaale, J. A. Witmer, Delmar Becker, and Paul Needham.
W. Asplund; one that was brought to Wilton in 1954; and· the present one that was built in 1966.
Resident pastors have been Magnus Spangberg, Carl H. Olson, E. O. Valberg, George A. Olson, Alfred Lewensten, Carl F. Johnson, and the present pastor, John Bispala. Many students and interns, as well as faithful vice-pastors have served the congregation.
Mathilda Anderson and Herman Falkenstein were the first couple married in the old church. The largest confirmation class was in 1914 with 23 members.
Sunne and Bethlehem Lutheran of Wing are now a joint parish.
Information - Wilton Diamond Jubilee, 1899-1974 (Page 39)
One of the early ministers was a man known in the community as "Preacher Larson". In the spring of 1898 Mr. C. M. Johnson, a colleges student from Chicago, was called as pastor. In the spring of 1899, the first church building was erected on property donated by the Engstrom family. The present church, erected on the same site, was built in 1916. The Women's Missionary Society was organized in 1947. In May 1952, the church was reorganized and affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America. Pastors who have served the congregation include C. Edward Johnson, Thure Johnson, S. C. Theodore Ramsey, C. C. Carlberg, Joel C. Nordlund, Berglund, Kasper Benson, J. W. Fjellstedt, Warren Wedan, Gordon Langmede, Lawrence Palmquist, Clifford Green, Milton Kaale, J. A. Witmer, Delmar Becker, and Paul Needham.
W. Asplund; one that was brought to Wilton in 1954; and· the present one that was built in 1966.
Resident pastors have been Magnus Spangberg, Carl H. Olson, E. O. Valberg, George A. Olson, Alfred Lewensten, Carl F. Johnson, and the present pastor, John Bispala. Many students and interns, as well as faithful vice-pastors have served the congregation.
Mathilda Anderson and Herman Falkenstein were the first couple married in the old church. The largest confirmation class was in 1914 with 23 members.
Sunne and Bethlehem Lutheran of Wing are now a joint parish.
Information - Wilton Diamond Jubilee, 1899-1974 (Page 39)