North Trinity Church
7265 143rd Ave. NE
Grafton, Walsh County North Dakota 58237
7265 143rd Ave. NE
Grafton, Walsh County North Dakota 58237
The North Trinity Church was built in 1893. It has also been known as Nordre Trefoldegheds Menigheds, as The Swede Church, and as North Trinity Lutheran Church. It includes Gothic Revival architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places February 20, 2004, as "Nordre Trefoldegheds Menigheds".
The beginning of the North Trinity Church was in conjunction with the South Trinity Church in 1879. The history of its beginning is included in the report of the South Trinity Church. Charter members were Carl Almen, John Almen, Andreas Ask, Henry Hanson, Ole Haugerud, Andrew Hoghaug, Haakon Johnson, Jorgun Johnson, Johannes Kohlar, Iver Iverson Ljone, Mons Monson and John Paulson.
May 30,1885, the church members met at the home of Pastor Nykriem to divide the congregation into a north and south district. The new congregations were to be known as North Trinity and South Trinity. The decision went into effect Dec. 29, 1885.
North Trinity Church congregation held its first business meeting June 13,1885. Plans were discussed for the construction of the church on the land donated by John Almen for church and cemetery. The land was located on the NE 'A of Section 35 in Glenwood Township. At a meeting held Jan. 30, 1886, it was decided to solicit funds for the construction of the church. At the yearly meeting of November 1892, final plans were drawn up; collections for the building project at that time totaled $620. Construction of the church was begun in 1893 and completed the same year. Stones for the foundation were hauled from the Dundee area and the foundation was built by Magnus Hultin. Lumber was hauled from Auburn as the railroad had come by this time.
In 1893, North Trinity Church joined the Hauge Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod and had pastors in conjunction with Our Saviour's Lutheran Church at Grafton. The first business meeting was held Jan. 2,1894, conducted by Pastor M. G. Hanson of Grand Forks. He also served the churches between 1892-1898.
The pastors who served were: 1898-1904, Rev. B. K. Barstad; 1904-1908, Rev. T. J. Knutson; 1908-1913, Rev. J. J. Jacobson; 1913-1914, Rev. John Halvorson; 1914-1919, Rev. E. O. Munkevold; and 1919-1920, Rev. O. T. Ness.
The merger of synods caused North Trinity again to become a part of the South Trinity and Zion Lutheran
congregations. The three parishes were served by Pastors Adolph Egge, 1920-26: C. M. Grimsrud, 1926-
1929; and L.M. Hellaklev, 1929-1953.
Pioneer members of this little church are listed as: C. F. Almen, Alfred Anderson, Selmer Adsem, Per
Anderson, Gustav Beck, Anton Dahl, Martin Dahl, Oluf Dahl, Hans Hanson, Carl Hultin, John Hultin, Magnus Hultin, Anton Johnson, G. A. Johnson, Gustav Johnson, John Johnson, Peter Larson, Lars Lundgren, Axel Magnusson, Andrew Monson, August Nelson, Carl Oberg, John Oberg, John Olson, Anton Selliken, A. F. Sinclair, and Tion Swanson.
The Ladies' Aid of North Trinity congregation was organized in 1885 when P. A. Nykriem was pastor.
Charter members were Mrs. John Almen, Mrs. Per Anderson, Mrs. Martin Dahl, Mrs. Henry Hanson, Mrs. Ole Haugerud, Mrs. Carl Hultin, Mrs. Lars Lundgren, and Mrs. Andrew Monson. Meetings were usually held in their homes.
In addition to the charter members previously named, pioneer women active in church work were Mmes. Selmer Adsem, Anton Dahl, Olaf Dahl, G. A. Johnson, Gustav Johnson, Peter Larson, August Nelson,
Carl Oberg, John Olson, Tion Swanson, and Joe Thompson.
Highlight of the Aid was the annual picnic and auction sale held during the summer. It started with a regular program, services, and auction sale. Then a complete meal was served at tables in family style.
Neighborhood congregations were attracted to this event. Children were especially fond of the lemonade stand and the homemade ice cream prepared by the ladies and frozen in hand freezers by manpower.
Proceeds were used in mission work, paying pastors salaries, and renovating the church. Later it was simplified to an auction sale and picnic supper served cafeteria style.
The first wedding in North Trinity was of Sena and Albert Thompson. The first Young People's Society was organized by Pastor Barstad. The roll of 1903 included Hattie Anderson, Laura Monson, Olga Almen, Clarence Bakke, Edward Hanson, Arthur Ellefson, Sam Nilson, Herman Dahl, Victor Almen, Otto Almen, Hilda Almen, Nellie Almen, Cora Hanson, Emma Ellefson, Alma Dahl, and Constance.
The first organist of the church was Mrs. A. N. Monsebroten who had studied music at St. Olaf's College
when it was newly organized. Others were Alma Monsebroten, Hannah Almen Tallackson, Ida Almen
Mastre, Anna Johnson Russum, Cora Larson Sager, Lillian Monsebroten Sando, Dagmar Almen Midboe,
Verna Larson, Ella Dahl, Olava Flom Johnson, Marie Grimsrud Langemo, Sophia Gryde Swanson, and Mrs. Adolph Egge.
Information - A Story Of Walsh County And Its Pioneers Vol 1 (pages 340 -342)
May 30,1885, the church members met at the home of Pastor Nykriem to divide the congregation into a north and south district. The new congregations were to be known as North Trinity and South Trinity. The decision went into effect Dec. 29, 1885.
North Trinity Church congregation held its first business meeting June 13,1885. Plans were discussed for the construction of the church on the land donated by John Almen for church and cemetery. The land was located on the NE 'A of Section 35 in Glenwood Township. At a meeting held Jan. 30, 1886, it was decided to solicit funds for the construction of the church. At the yearly meeting of November 1892, final plans were drawn up; collections for the building project at that time totaled $620. Construction of the church was begun in 1893 and completed the same year. Stones for the foundation were hauled from the Dundee area and the foundation was built by Magnus Hultin. Lumber was hauled from Auburn as the railroad had come by this time.
In 1893, North Trinity Church joined the Hauge Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod and had pastors in conjunction with Our Saviour's Lutheran Church at Grafton. The first business meeting was held Jan. 2,1894, conducted by Pastor M. G. Hanson of Grand Forks. He also served the churches between 1892-1898.
The pastors who served were: 1898-1904, Rev. B. K. Barstad; 1904-1908, Rev. T. J. Knutson; 1908-1913, Rev. J. J. Jacobson; 1913-1914, Rev. John Halvorson; 1914-1919, Rev. E. O. Munkevold; and 1919-1920, Rev. O. T. Ness.
The merger of synods caused North Trinity again to become a part of the South Trinity and Zion Lutheran
congregations. The three parishes were served by Pastors Adolph Egge, 1920-26: C. M. Grimsrud, 1926-
1929; and L.M. Hellaklev, 1929-1953.
Pioneer members of this little church are listed as: C. F. Almen, Alfred Anderson, Selmer Adsem, Per
Anderson, Gustav Beck, Anton Dahl, Martin Dahl, Oluf Dahl, Hans Hanson, Carl Hultin, John Hultin, Magnus Hultin, Anton Johnson, G. A. Johnson, Gustav Johnson, John Johnson, Peter Larson, Lars Lundgren, Axel Magnusson, Andrew Monson, August Nelson, Carl Oberg, John Oberg, John Olson, Anton Selliken, A. F. Sinclair, and Tion Swanson.
The Ladies' Aid of North Trinity congregation was organized in 1885 when P. A. Nykriem was pastor.
Charter members were Mrs. John Almen, Mrs. Per Anderson, Mrs. Martin Dahl, Mrs. Henry Hanson, Mrs. Ole Haugerud, Mrs. Carl Hultin, Mrs. Lars Lundgren, and Mrs. Andrew Monson. Meetings were usually held in their homes.
In addition to the charter members previously named, pioneer women active in church work were Mmes. Selmer Adsem, Anton Dahl, Olaf Dahl, G. A. Johnson, Gustav Johnson, Peter Larson, August Nelson,
Carl Oberg, John Olson, Tion Swanson, and Joe Thompson.
Highlight of the Aid was the annual picnic and auction sale held during the summer. It started with a regular program, services, and auction sale. Then a complete meal was served at tables in family style.
Neighborhood congregations were attracted to this event. Children were especially fond of the lemonade stand and the homemade ice cream prepared by the ladies and frozen in hand freezers by manpower.
Proceeds were used in mission work, paying pastors salaries, and renovating the church. Later it was simplified to an auction sale and picnic supper served cafeteria style.
The first wedding in North Trinity was of Sena and Albert Thompson. The first Young People's Society was organized by Pastor Barstad. The roll of 1903 included Hattie Anderson, Laura Monson, Olga Almen, Clarence Bakke, Edward Hanson, Arthur Ellefson, Sam Nilson, Herman Dahl, Victor Almen, Otto Almen, Hilda Almen, Nellie Almen, Cora Hanson, Emma Ellefson, Alma Dahl, and Constance.
The first organist of the church was Mrs. A. N. Monsebroten who had studied music at St. Olaf's College
when it was newly organized. Others were Alma Monsebroten, Hannah Almen Tallackson, Ida Almen
Mastre, Anna Johnson Russum, Cora Larson Sager, Lillian Monsebroten Sando, Dagmar Almen Midboe,
Verna Larson, Ella Dahl, Olava Flom Johnson, Marie Grimsrud Langemo, Sophia Gryde Swanson, and Mrs. Adolph Egge.
Information - A Story Of Walsh County And Its Pioneers Vol 1 (pages 340 -342)