04/30/2022
Earlier this month we celebrated our 145th anniversary! Here is a brief history of Swedona.
This church history originated with the arrival of Swedish immigrants who came to the locality from Lockport and Joliet Illinois in May 1873. Traveling with oxen and horses it took 30 to 40 days.
At first, fellowship and devotions were held in their sod homes. Intermittently they worshiped with the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Beaver Valley congregation. The sentiment of a church closer to their homes became evident.
On April 7, 1877 a meeting was held at the home of Eric Erickson under the leadership of Rev. J.F. Wretlof resulting in the organization of the Swedish Lutheran Mission Church of Swedona. There were 36 charter members. Descendants from charter members Eric Erickson, Jonas Nordstrom and P.J. Swenson are attending Swedona today!
In 1878 the original name, Swedish Lutheran Mission Church of Swedona, was changed to the Swedish Evangelical Mission Church of Swedona. The change was made with the entry of the church into the Mission Synod of that time. In 1930 the church constitution and bylaws were translated from Swedish to English. The church was renamed Swedona Evangelical Covenant Church as they joined the Evangelical Covenant Church of America in Chicago, Illinois.
The first church was made of sod and was built in 1879 located one mile east of the present church.
In 1881 the sod church was replaced by a frame church a few feet west of the present church on three acres of land donated by Carl F. Hanson. After the building of the church in 1881, the pioneers felt the need for protection for their horses. There was a long line of hitching posts west of the present church but it was also decided to build a barn to accommodate the horses in the winter weather.
The present church was completed in 1913.
Construction of the parsonage next door to the church was completed in 1910 and the first pastor to occupy the parsonage was Rev. G. F. Moline. Knowing the needs of a country pastor, a small barn with a hayloft was built with stalls for horses, two cows, and a coop for chickens. These buildings were west of the parsonage.
In 1948 the church was improved. First the digging of the basement by the local farmers and a new front entrance was installed. The interior was redone and a painting of Jesus by the artist August Klagstad was hung. Rev. H.R. Jacobson was in charge of all remodeling. He also framed the painting and built the communion table.
An addition of two Sunday School rooms, an office, and a room downstairs were added in 1994.
On September 24, 1995 on Rally Sunday, there was a dedication for the installation of the first bell ever in the steeple.
Rev. John F. Wretlof was the first pastor and served 32 years. In 1909 he was followed by 13 Covenant pastors. In 1961 North American Baptist Seminary (NABS) in Sioux Falls provided 32 students to serve Swedona. Their tenure would range from one year to three years as then they were graduated from NABS.
In 2016 a retired Covenant pastor living in Brandon, SD, Rev. Mick Murphy, accepted the call to serve Swedona to the thankfulness of the chairman and all the members.
Many changes have transpired in both the church and the community since the building of the sod church. Families in the area have supported the church faithfully through the years and continue to do so. All of these changes are part of this generation’s heritage.
We rejoice with the words of the psalmist, “For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all generations.”
