Stjordalen Lutheran Church
47.71860, -97.30220
316 22nd Street NE
Reynolds, Grand Forks County, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58275
47.71860, -97.30220
316 22nd Street NE
Reynolds, Grand Forks County, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58275
Stjordalen Lutheran Church
Reynolds, North Dakota
1882 - 1957
Stjordalen's History
The Stjordalen Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was organized July 22, 1882. First service held September 13, 1882. Worship was held in farm homes until public schools were built. Church building dedicated July 10, 1904. First child baptized, Lars L. Kleven, November 7, 1882. First Confirmand, Caroline Lee, November 11, 1883. First couple married, Ole L. Kleven and Barbro Magnusdatter. First communion service December 8, 1882.
Pastors called were the Reverends:
C. M. J. Gronlie 1882-1895
Louis S. Marvick 1895-1902
Peter R. Syrdal 1902-1907
Martin Romstad 1907-1913
Tobias Tjornhom 1913-1923
M. O. Ensberg 1923-1932
P. C. Oas 1932-1939
Michael Luthro 1939-1942
Thomas Gabrielson 1942-1949
A. E. Norson 1949-1953
V. G. Gilbertson 1953-
Info from - back of Stjordalen Lutheran Church plate.
Reynolds, North Dakota
1882 - 1957
Stjordalen's History
The Stjordalen Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was organized July 22, 1882. First service held September 13, 1882. Worship was held in farm homes until public schools were built. Church building dedicated July 10, 1904. First child baptized, Lars L. Kleven, November 7, 1882. First Confirmand, Caroline Lee, November 11, 1883. First couple married, Ole L. Kleven and Barbro Magnusdatter. First communion service December 8, 1882.
Pastors called were the Reverends:
C. M. J. Gronlie 1882-1895
Louis S. Marvick 1895-1902
Peter R. Syrdal 1902-1907
Martin Romstad 1907-1913
Tobias Tjornhom 1913-1923
M. O. Ensberg 1923-1932
P. C. Oas 1932-1939
Michael Luthro 1939-1942
Thomas Gabrielson 1942-1949
A. E. Norson 1949-1953
V. G. Gilbertson 1953-
Info from - back of Stjordalen Lutheran Church plate.
The Stjordalen Lutheran Church
The Stjordalen Lutheran Church Congregation was organized at a meeting held in the home of Arndt A. Lee on July 22, 1882. At this meeting the question of a name for the congregation was discussed and the name Stjordalen Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran was adopted. Stjordalen being a namesake of the part of Norway from which many of the charter members had come.
Henrik J, Hjelmstad was elected the first secretary with the first trustees being Christopher P. Hjelmstad, Arndt A. Lee and Nils J. Oyen.
Earliest names connected with the congregation were the aforementioned, also Iver J. Hjelmstad, Lasse P. Hjelmstad, Ole J. Silrand, Ole O. Almlie, Lars L. Kleven, Bortinus L. Kleven, Ole L. Kleven, J. R. Aas, Christopher Olson, Henrik O. Bjerken, Jonas Pederson Berg.
The first service was held Sept. 13, 1882, in the home of Lasse P. Fljelmstad by the Rev. C.M.J. Gronlie. Here as in many other congregations of the early days the place of worship were the farm homes until the first public schools were built. The first child baptized were Lars L. Kleven on Nov. 7, 1882. First confirmand Caroline Lee, Nov. 1 1, 1883. The first couple married was Ole L. Kleven and Barbro Magnusdatter. First communion service was Dec. 8, 1882, when 13 souls partook in the Lord's Supper. The Rev. Gronlie was called as the first pastor. The present cemetery plot was set aside in 1884.
Our congregation joined the Norwegian Synod in 1884 but because of some disagreement with parts of their doctrines it severed relations in 1888 and in 1890 it joined the United Church Synod. We are at present members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church body.
First Building committee was elected in 1892 with the Ladies Aid promising to finance the cost of a basement and in 1893 the construction of the church was started. On Feb. 20, 1893, the congregation was incorporated. Rev. S. O. Braaten laid the cornerstone of the church on Sept. 8, 18-95. This was a festive day with real rejoicing over their church where they worship God and receive His sacraments.
The dedication followed on July 10, 1904, with Rev. F. A. Schmidt officiating with several other pastors taking part. Stjordalen congregation was served by pastors of the Hatton parish until 1923 when it joined St. Olaf and Zion congregations at Reynolds to form the present parish. This parish built a parsonage in 1926 costing $8,000, with this congregation contributing their share. Congregational data show that there have been 458 baptisms; 215 confirmands; 66 weddings; 142 funerals. The congregation has gone forward by the grace of God. The church has been remodeled, church yard improved and maintained beautifully. Truly the Stjordalen people have been blessed as they serve God in their church.
Info from – Northwood Diamond Jubilee, 1884-1959: North Dakota (page 81 thru 82)
The Stjordalen Lutheran Church Congregation was organized at a meeting held in the home of Arndt A. Lee on July 22, 1882. At this meeting the question of a name for the congregation was discussed and the name Stjordalen Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran was adopted. Stjordalen being a namesake of the part of Norway from which many of the charter members had come.
Henrik J, Hjelmstad was elected the first secretary with the first trustees being Christopher P. Hjelmstad, Arndt A. Lee and Nils J. Oyen.
Earliest names connected with the congregation were the aforementioned, also Iver J. Hjelmstad, Lasse P. Hjelmstad, Ole J. Silrand, Ole O. Almlie, Lars L. Kleven, Bortinus L. Kleven, Ole L. Kleven, J. R. Aas, Christopher Olson, Henrik O. Bjerken, Jonas Pederson Berg.
The first service was held Sept. 13, 1882, in the home of Lasse P. Fljelmstad by the Rev. C.M.J. Gronlie. Here as in many other congregations of the early days the place of worship were the farm homes until the first public schools were built. The first child baptized were Lars L. Kleven on Nov. 7, 1882. First confirmand Caroline Lee, Nov. 1 1, 1883. The first couple married was Ole L. Kleven and Barbro Magnusdatter. First communion service was Dec. 8, 1882, when 13 souls partook in the Lord's Supper. The Rev. Gronlie was called as the first pastor. The present cemetery plot was set aside in 1884.
Our congregation joined the Norwegian Synod in 1884 but because of some disagreement with parts of their doctrines it severed relations in 1888 and in 1890 it joined the United Church Synod. We are at present members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church body.
First Building committee was elected in 1892 with the Ladies Aid promising to finance the cost of a basement and in 1893 the construction of the church was started. On Feb. 20, 1893, the congregation was incorporated. Rev. S. O. Braaten laid the cornerstone of the church on Sept. 8, 18-95. This was a festive day with real rejoicing over their church where they worship God and receive His sacraments.
The dedication followed on July 10, 1904, with Rev. F. A. Schmidt officiating with several other pastors taking part. Stjordalen congregation was served by pastors of the Hatton parish until 1923 when it joined St. Olaf and Zion congregations at Reynolds to form the present parish. This parish built a parsonage in 1926 costing $8,000, with this congregation contributing their share. Congregational data show that there have been 458 baptisms; 215 confirmands; 66 weddings; 142 funerals. The congregation has gone forward by the grace of God. The church has been remodeled, church yard improved and maintained beautifully. Truly the Stjordalen people have been blessed as they serve God in their church.
Info from – Northwood Diamond Jubilee, 1884-1959: North Dakota (page 81 thru 82)
Stjordalen congregation was organized on July 22, 1882, at the home of Arent Lee. The Rev. C. J. M. Grnlid of Hatton, who served as pastor of the congregation until 1895, was the organizing pastor.
In 1895, the congregation purchases a church building from St. John's, Hatton. The building was razed and then reassembled in its present location under the direc tion of Lorentz Tratli. A new pastor, the Rev. Louis S. Marvick, arrived in time to officiate with Pastors Albert Johansen, O. K. Quamme, B. Tollefson, and S. O. Bra aten in laying the cornerstone on Sept. 8, 1895. Pastor Marvick, who served until 1902, also introduced occasional English services, a radical innovation at the time.
The pastors serving Stjordalen were from the Hatton parish. In 1923, however, a new parish was formed of Stjordalen and Zion and St. Olafs churches in Reynolds, with the pastor residing in Reynolds. The first pastor called to this new parish was the Rev. M. O. Ensberg, who served until 1931.
Recently the need for adequate classroom space re quired the building of an educational unit, which was dedicated on May 15, 1960, during the pastorate of the Rev. Victor Gilbertson who served the parish from 1953 to 1963.
Info from - THE OLD SETTLER'S MEMORIAL MONUMENT ASS'N, INC. PRESENTS A LOOK INTO THE PAST (page 86)
In 1895, the congregation purchases a church building from St. John's, Hatton. The building was razed and then reassembled in its present location under the direc tion of Lorentz Tratli. A new pastor, the Rev. Louis S. Marvick, arrived in time to officiate with Pastors Albert Johansen, O. K. Quamme, B. Tollefson, and S. O. Bra aten in laying the cornerstone on Sept. 8, 1895. Pastor Marvick, who served until 1902, also introduced occasional English services, a radical innovation at the time.
The pastors serving Stjordalen were from the Hatton parish. In 1923, however, a new parish was formed of Stjordalen and Zion and St. Olafs churches in Reynolds, with the pastor residing in Reynolds. The first pastor called to this new parish was the Rev. M. O. Ensberg, who served until 1931.
Recently the need for adequate classroom space re quired the building of an educational unit, which was dedicated on May 15, 1960, during the pastorate of the Rev. Victor Gilbertson who served the parish from 1953 to 1963.
Info from - THE OLD SETTLER'S MEMORIAL MONUMENT ASS'N, INC. PRESENTS A LOOK INTO THE PAST (page 86)