Root Prairie Lutheran
Church
Chronological Events 1856 - Congregation formally organized - services held in homes – Norwegian Synod 47 members 1863 - Land purchased for $2.00 1865 - Church erected with stone foundation - church entrance faced the west – chancel faced the east 1866 - November 12th, first church services 93 charter members 1868 - Root Prairie and North Prairie call first pastor (Rev. M.H. Magnus) Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran (Norwegian Synod) 1871 - Original pulpit built 1876 - Bell weighing 1000 pounds purchased for $400.00 1887 - Root Prairie and North Prairie withdrew Norwegian Synod and joined the Antimissourians (one of three Norwegian synods in America) 1888 - Ladies Aid organized 1890 - Joined the Norwegian Lutheran United Church (Antimissourians, Augustana Synod and the Konferentsen united) 1896 - One acre of land purchased for $1.00 1897 - Church rebuilt (present church edifice) 1898 - Cornerstone laid and edifice dedicated 1902 - More land purchased for $50.00 1904 - Fountain Lutheran church organized 17 families released from Root Prairie 1910 - Pilot Mound Lutheran church organized 19 families released from Root Prairie 1910 - Union with North Prairie dissolved - united with Fountain and Spring Valley 1914 - 530 members 1915 - Started English services 1-2 per year 1919 - Women of the congregation were granted the privilege to vote 1930 - English service every 4th Sunday 1933 - Sunday School organized 1934 - One third of services English 1938 - Half of services English 1943 - English services (few exceptions conducted in Norwegian) 1945 - Root Prairie formed parish with newly organized Chatfield Lutheran Church 1946 - 90th celebration September 29th 1956 - Centennial celebration August 23rd, 24th, and 26th 290 members 1958 - Root Prairie Cemetery Association established 1962 - Became member of American Lutheran Church 1966 - Union with Chatfield Lutheran dissolved joined with Fountain Lutheran Church 1966 - 110th Anniversary observed, August 7th 1981 - 125th Anniversary celebration August 16th 218 baptized 168 confirmed 1987 - Became member of Evangelical Lutheran Church of America - ELCA 2006 - 150th Anniversary celebration August 20th 168 baptized 144 confirmed 2012 - 198 baptized, 160 confirmed 2013 - 160 baptized, 129 confirmed 2014 - 162 Baptized, 131 confirmed2015 - 170 Active Baptized Members, 136 Active Confirmed Members 2017 - 185 Active Baptized Members, 146 Active Confirmed Members 2018 - 185 Active Baptized Members, 144 Confirmed Members 2019 - Union with Fountain Lutheran Dissolved Shared Pastoral Ministry established with Chatfield Lutheran Celebrating the 150th Anniversary Republican Leader - August 10, 2006 The Chatfield News - August 15, 2006 Root Prairie Lutheran Pastors 1856-1868 Rev. F.C. Clausen (Spring Grove) & Rev. N.E. Jensen (Highland Prairie) 1868-1875 Rev. M.H. Magnus (served Root Prairie & North Prairie) 1875-1876 Rev. Kristian Magelson from Highland Prairie and Elstad (interim pastor) 1876-1889 Rev. J.I.Krohn 1889-1890 Rev. Bjorn (interim pastor) 1890-1893 Rev. P.R.O. Olson 1893-1894 Rev. Rasmussen (interim pastor) 1894-1904 Rev. N.C. Arveson 1904-1932 Rev. N.A. Giere 1932-1942 Rev. John Ritland (served Root Prairie, Fountain, Spring Valley, & Stewartville) 1942-1943 Rev. C.C.A. Jensen (interim pastor) 1943-1946 Rev. E.A. Nilssen 1946-1950 Rev. M.L. Witte 1951-1954 Rev. William Benbow 1955-1960 Rev. Gordon Carls 1960-1961 Rev. N.C. Renslo (interim pastor) 1961-1965 Rev. James Braaten 1966-1969 Rev. Leander Brakke 1969-1974 Rev. Gustav Odegaard 1974-1978 Rev. Paul Nelson 1979-2000 Rev. John Sime 2000-2002 Rev. Curtis Fox (interim pastor) 2002-2005 Rev. Kieran Darcy 2005-2006 Rev. Jane Timmerman (interim pastor) 2006- 2014 Rev. Paul Forde 2014 - 2016 Rev. Karla Kirkeby (interim pastor) 2016 - 2018 Rev. Grace Gravelle 2018 - 2019 Rev. Chris Miller (interim pastor) 2019 - Rev. Mark Docken and Rev. Nissa Peterson |
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