Elim Lutheran Church was organized on May 19, 1854, under the direction of Pastor Erland Carlson (below) of Chicago, who was visiting Minnesota for the purpose of organizing other congregations in the area. A total of 50 communicant members formed the nucleus for the new congregation. Elim was the third congregation founded in the Minnesota Conference of the former Augustana Lutheran Church, with only First Lutheran Church of St. Paul, organized on May 6, 1854, and Chisago Lake Lutheran Church of Center City, organized May 12, 1854, preceding it. For some time, the meeting place of the new congregation was the hospitable home of Daniel Nilson.(right)

When Pastor P. A. Cedarstam arrived in Chisago Lakes in spring of 1855, he was asked to preach at Elim Church. He did so until April of 1858. A constitution was adopted by the young congregation on December 16, 1855. Three deacons were elected also at that time, Bengt Jonson, E. Erickson, and C. A. Ljungren. They were, the first church officers elected in Elim Lutheran Church.

First Church
1856-1860
The first church building was erected in 1856 at a cost of less than $500 and stood near Hay Lake, about two miles south of Scandia. In a short time this log building was too small for the fast-growing congregation. The log church was taken over by the school district and used as a schoolhouse until 1899. (Photo at right was taken in 1894.) The log sanctuary is now preserved at the Gammelgarden Museum in Scandia.
 
2nd Church
1861-1876
In 1861 a new place of worship was built in the location of what is now the church cemetery. Cost of the building was $1400. A bell tower stood beside this little church, which served its purpose until it was outgrown about 1874. The first regular pastor of Elim Church was Pastor Johan Pehrson, who served from 1862-63.

Second pastor of the congregation was Pastor Aaron Lindholm
who served from 1864-66.

Pastor J. P. Lundblad served at Elim in 1867,
but no further information is available about him.

3rd Church
1877 - 1894 (destroyed by tornado)
The third church was completed in 1877 and was built on the site of the present sanctuary. The frame structure was 80 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 20 feet high.

Pastor L. O. Lindh served as pastor from 1869-79. During his pastorate, in 1872 a daughter congregation was organized in the neighboring community of Marine Mills, and the Scandia congregation became known as the "Marine Country Church" to differentiate it from the Marine Village Church.

The fourth pastor of the parish was Pastor Eric Hedeen (left) who served from 1879-85. During his pastorate, on September 9, 1884 the church was destroyed by a tornado. It was a severe blow to the congregation who had worked so hard building this church. However, services were held the following Sunday in the midst of the rubble, with Pastor Hedeen preaching from the pulpit which remained intact. Two weeks later, the undaunted congregation met in special session and decided to erect a new house of worship on the same place and foundation as the former one. In the fall of 1884 work began on the fourth church.




4th Church
1885 - 1907
(destroyed by lightning/fire)
The fourth church was completed in 1885 and was constructed of wood, with brick veneer. A sacristy adequate in size for small gatherings, was added. Pastor Hedeen left at the end of 1885. Pastor A. Hult was the parish's fifth pastor. He served the congregation from 1886-95. During this time, the congregation continued to grow in numbers and in the extent of its program and ministry. In 1895 the congregation was officially named "Elim" Lutheran Church.
 
In July, 1896 Pastor J. Theodore Kjellgren, became the sixth pastor of Elim. His pastorate was the longest in the history of this congregation so far, 19 years. He served from 1896-1915. The communicant membership reached its highest peak during Pastor Kjellgren's time. It was also during this period that the golden jubilee of the congregation was held. It had now reached the half century mark in age and the pioneer days were fast becoming only a memory. In 1898 a pipe organ was secured after the Young People's Society raised $1,000 toward its purchase. Art glass windows were installed in 1903, and an altar painting in 1904. The church was flourishing, the future seemed bright and promising, and the festive services expressed the happiness and gratitude of the people for the goodness of God towards them in this new land. Then, on May 21, 1907 lightning struck the church, and it was destroyed by fire. However, once more pastor and people rallied to rebuild their place of worship and built the 5th church.

5th Church
1908 - 1930 (destroyed by fire)
The fifth church was built in 1908 on the same site, this time of brick with hollow clay tile walls and exceeded the former structures in beauty and strength. Pastor Kjellgren resigned on June 6, 1915. He was succeeded by Pastor A. J. Malmquist (left) who served from 1916-26. An impressive carved altar in our church was donated by the Luther League during this period. This church was  also adorned with a carved pulpit, carved pews and an imported Thorvaldson Christ statue for the altar. Pastor Malmquist labored during the years of the first World War, and there were many problems to cope with as this disturbance passed over the world. A vacancy of nearly two years followed Pastor Malmquists's departure, but on November 14, 1927 the church's eighth pastor, Pastor Joel Olsenius (right) was installed. He served from 1927-39. A momentous change took place in the congregation as the Swedish language gradually gave way to the exclusive use of English. This was accomplished in stages: for a time the pastor preached two sermons during a single worship service -- one in Swedish and one in English; later Swedish services were held only once a month; eventually they were abandoned except for occasional services. Tragedy struck once again on May 30, 1930 when fire destroyed the 5th church. The outside walls, the Christ statue, pews, pulpit and altar were saved. Immediately the parish built its sixth structure.

6th Church and Parish Hall
1930 - present

The 6th and present day church was rebuilt in 1930. The exterior walls of the fifth church remained, but the rest was rebuilt after the fire. The Parish Hall was also constructed at this time and was used for parish education, organization meetings and community gatherings.

Pastor Olsenius passed away on December 23, 1939 and was laid to rest in Elim's cemetery. His successor, Pastor A. B. Walfrid (left) became Elim's ninth pastor in October, 1940. He served from 1940-46. There was an upward trend in church attendance and a substantial increase in membership. The church debt also was retired during this period. When Pastor Walfrid left the parish in 1946, a call was extended to Pastor Ernest G. Anderson (right) and he became the tenth pastor of the congregation. He served from 1946-54 and during his service he placed much importance on stewardship education, missions and evangelism. During this period, the congregation substantially increased its participation in the general work of the church.

Pastor Virgil Lundquist (no photo) eleventh pastor of the parish assumed duties in 1954 and served until 1960. Special achievements marking his stay in Scandia were a revival of interest and participation by the youth of the congregation, the formation of the new Lutheran Church Women's group, supplanting the former Ladies' Aid and Women's Missionary Society and unifying the work of Elim's women, and special emphasis on the expansion of the Sunday School program and facilities that came to fruition in the pastorate of his successor Pastor J. Henry Bergren. Pastor Lundquist resigned on October 2, 1960.

Associate/Assistant Pastors who served Elim from 1971 to the present...

Elim Church history on this page was gathered from past church anniversary programs, Anna Engquist's book, Scandia - Then and Now, Elim Lutheran Church Photo Directories, and the church library.
Any additions or corrections regarding any information on this page, please email me .