Immanuel Lutheran Church sits at the top of one of the many gently rolling hills of northwestern French Lake Township. It is located approximately 1 mile west and 1 mile north of French Lake Corners. 1998 marked the centennial for Immanuel, also known in the past as the “Norwegian Church” because of its Norwegian roots and Norwegian language services in the early years. A plaque by the front door summarizes the history of the church. The congregation was organized in 1898 by pioneers who emigrated from Norway and Sweden between 1871 and 1892, and settled on farms in French Lake Township. The first church services were in 1887 at the home of Henry Kringsberg. Twelve couples and their families started the church – three couples from Norway and nine from Sweden. Henry and Gertrude Kringsberg from Sweden were the first of Immanuel’s founders to immigrate (1871), and they were among the leaders in organizing the church. Charter members from Norway were Ingrid Malsterteigen, Peter and Maria Walberg and Martin and Martina Opsahl. The charter members from Sweden were Henry and Gertrude Kringsberg, Ole and Ingeborg Larson, Henry and Anna Hendrickson, John and Mary Walberg, John and Mary Forsberg, A.J. and Maria Lindberg, Peter and Karoline Berg, Henry and Anna Anderson and the John Gerards. Martha (Lindberg) Gerard was born in Sweden, and Jon Gerard was born in Minnesota, the son of early immigrants from Belgium. John Gerard’s parents were in French Lake as early as 1859 or 1860. The 12 families were close neighbors and some of them were related. They held worship meetings in homes starting in 1887 and on April 26, 1898, they signed a charter stating in Norwegian: “At the congregational meeting today, we the undersigned formed a Christian Congregation at French Lake and accept herewith the Constitution for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of North America.” From 1898 to 1931, all entries in the church minutes books were in Norwegian. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of North America was founded by Rev. Elling Eielsen in Jefferson Prairie, Wis., in 1846. Eielsen Synod was added to the synodical name in 1867. Eielsen was a lay preacher and evangelist in Norway. He arrived in America in 1839. He is considered the chief transplanter of the Hauge movement from Norway to America. Hans Nielson Hauge (1771-1824) started a revival movement in Norway by lay activity alone. He advocated a non-liturgical form of worship with prayer, traditional hymn singing and usually lay preaching, which was a departure from the State Church of Norway. He was imprisoned in Norway for his ministry. Elling Eielsen (1804-1883) stressed the importance of repentence, conversion and lay preaching. He opposed ritualism, formal worhship clerical vestments and clerical authority. It is not known how the Immanuel charter members decided to affiliate with Eielsen’s synod. It is possible they knew of Hauge or Eielsen in Norway or Sweden, or another Eielsen Synod pastor made evangelism trips to Minnesota. In 1900, charter members Henry and Anna Anderson donated land in Section 9, French Lake Township. The church was built in 1901. Alden Walberg said that he remembers his grandfather, Martin Opsahl, telling how he helped build the church. (“A Synod of One: Immanuel Lutheran Church – Part 2” by Karen Christofferson of The Kimball Historical Society will be featured in the Thursday, March 29, 2007, edition of the Tri-County News.) ********** Picturing the past as we look back 109 years, is a wonderful history of Immanuel Lutheran Church of French Lake, thanks to member Karen Christofferson. As we keep collecting warm memories, we believe that the story we tell at Kimball Area Historical Society has special relevance. It is our deeply held belief that informed and educated citizens provide the best protection of our heritage. Mark your calendar: Travel back in time Saturday, March 24, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Where: Kimball Area High School. What: The 2007 Kimball Business and Community Expo. If you visit our booth, you’ll get a taste of bygone days, and our historians look forward to meeting and greeting you. There is no admission charge for the expo, where entertainment, samples, drawings and prizes and information are abundant. Come as you are; it’s informal. ********** Thank you for your support through new and renewed memberships, one of the most valuable assets our society has. A wonderful program was held during our Feb. 27 meeting, featuring Civil War re-enactors in full
