St. Petri Lutheran Church
47°31'35.4"N 96°48'54.3"W
105 Highway 75 S.
Nielsville, Polk County, Minnesota 56568
47°31'35.4"N 96°48'54.3"W
105 Highway 75 S.
Nielsville, Polk County, Minnesota 56568
In 2023 St. Petri Lutheran Church was demolished.
The St. Petri Congregation is listed in the church publication "Norske Lutherske Menigheter I Amerika" as being organized on October 11, 1874, with a total of 100 members that first year. Another source listed the date of organization as May 11,1875. Since the early records were destroyed by fire, the exact date is difficult to establish. The St. Petri Congregation celebrated its Centennial on July 4, 5, 6, 1975.
The charter members as of May 1875 were Hans L. Gordon, Andrew L. Gordon, Lars H. Gordon, Charles L. Gordon, Anders O. Tronnes, Jorgen Johnson, Ole A. Tronnes, Johannes Jorgenson, Edward Tronnes, and Theodore Tronnes.
The decision to build a church was made in March 1886, but the actual building did not take place until 1887. The church was built on a site east of the Bjornstad farm on a plot of ground donated by the late Henry Simon, Sr. In 1896 the Great Northern Railway Co. laid its tracks through what became the present site of Nielsville, and two years later the church was moved to its present site. There has been added to the church a Parish Education Building in 1957; a front entrance in 1967; and a new east entrance, completed in 1975. The original church building is still a sanctuary.
Pastors who have served St. Petri are: Reverends, Bjug Aamondson Harstad, Hans Pederson Solstad, Peer Olson Stromme, Anders C. Anderson, Halvard Roalkvam, Hans Olsen Skyberg, Hans Johannessen Villesvik, Johan-Theodor Bursett, Ole Hanson Brodland, Otto Johnson Lutness, Karl Stomme, Jacob Nelson Dordal, Hans M. Finstad, Orlando A. Lee, Edward W. Johnshoy, A. B. Solberg, Dean Bakken, Robert Nedrud is the present pastor.
Information - Bicentennial History of Polk County, Minnesota Pioneers of the Valley (pages 151 -152)
The charter members as of May 1875 were Hans L. Gordon, Andrew L. Gordon, Lars H. Gordon, Charles L. Gordon, Anders O. Tronnes, Jorgen Johnson, Ole A. Tronnes, Johannes Jorgenson, Edward Tronnes, and Theodore Tronnes.
The decision to build a church was made in March 1886, but the actual building did not take place until 1887. The church was built on a site east of the Bjornstad farm on a plot of ground donated by the late Henry Simon, Sr. In 1896 the Great Northern Railway Co. laid its tracks through what became the present site of Nielsville, and two years later the church was moved to its present site. There has been added to the church a Parish Education Building in 1957; a front entrance in 1967; and a new east entrance, completed in 1975. The original church building is still a sanctuary.
Pastors who have served St. Petri are: Reverends, Bjug Aamondson Harstad, Hans Pederson Solstad, Peer Olson Stromme, Anders C. Anderson, Halvard Roalkvam, Hans Olsen Skyberg, Hans Johannessen Villesvik, Johan-Theodor Bursett, Ole Hanson Brodland, Otto Johnson Lutness, Karl Stomme, Jacob Nelson Dordal, Hans M. Finstad, Orlando A. Lee, Edward W. Johnshoy, A. B. Solberg, Dean Bakken, Robert Nedrud is the present pastor.
Information - Bicentennial History of Polk County, Minnesota Pioneers of the Valley (pages 151 -152)
Ladies Aid gathering early 1900's
2 miles south from St. Petri Lutheran Church, Nielsville, Minnesota on Highway 75
Shelly Township, Minnesota
Shelly Township, Minnesota