Soldier flock tends to historic church
Folks from 17 states help raise $40,000
By Tim Gallagher, Journal staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Church members Gordon Swenson and Jim Severson look over the siding project progress with the Rev. Meggan Manlove at the old Norwegian Country Church south of Soldier, Iowa. (Photo by Tim Gallagher)
SOLDIER, Iowa -- One of my favorite items in Siouxland is the painting behind the altar at the Norwegian Country Church serving the congregation of Soldier Lutheran.
That picture of Jesus, the accompanying cross and candlesticks were the only items saved from a 1903 fire, caused by lightning, when the Rev. G.H. Bakken rushed from the nearby parsonage as the 21-year-old wooden structure burned to the ground.
Those items are still seen at least five times per year when the congregation moves services from town to this church, built on a hilltop in 1904. Locals for years have called it the South Church.
Parishioners and the current leader of the flock have rushed, in a sense, to save the church again. Lightning didn't strike; Mother Nature did. Eleven decades of wind, rain, ice and sun atop this Monona County hill weakened the wooden exterior.
Permanent siding emerged as a permanent solution.
Money was an issue. Siding would cost $40,000. There's sticker shock involved when you're forced to raise that much money for a church used only a half-dozen times each year.
"There was some resistance," says the Rev. Meggan Manlove, pastor here for four years.
Manlove called upon fundraising experiences she'd had while working in the development office at her alma mater, Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. She joined four elders in combing recent school reunion lists as well as names entered in the guest book at the seldom-used country church.
The group mailed 230 letters in May, explaining the need to raise $40,000.
The result? Fifty-three responses representing 17 states. It all added up to meeting the goal.
Cook Siding of Wall Lake, Iowa, began siding the church late last week. The project should be done for a rededication service Sept. 14.
One of the letter writers in a faraway state sent $1,000. Others chipped in $5. Of course, there were lots of donors around Soldier.
It showed Manlove the church is truly a community, whether it involves someone from up the street or someone in Hawaii, Florida or Texas.
"This is their congregation," she says.
The effort ensures the tradition of having services here the last Sunday of May (before Memorial Day) and the four or five Sundays of June will continue, as they have for decades. This church, after all, hasn't hosted services year-round since the 1930s.
The cemetery here, however, remains an integral part of the congregation. Of the 24 funerals over which Manlove has presided the past four years, 18 have featured burials in this cemetery. It's a cemetery noted in part for 12 soldiers' graves at the south edge. Those graves are for Soldier's World War I soldiers killed while on active duty.
"Around 200 people attend the Memorial Day Sunday service," Manlove says. "It's like a family reunion."
The cemetery surrounds the church sanctuary.
"Out there you do feel like you're surrounded by the communion of saints," she says.
Parishioner Jim Severson stops by Monday to evaluate the progress. Looking up to the completed south side, Severson steps back and nods. "It's looking good," he says.
"Beautiful," adds Gordon Swenson, another member of the church. "We painted this 11 years ago for $14,000. But like my old house, it just doesn’t hold paint very well."
The siding should hold, offering guests and parishioners the chance to see the South Church in all its historic glory, perhaps for another 100 years.
Donors
Fifty-three respondents sent contributions to a committee in charge of siding the Soldier Lutheran's South Church this summer. They came from these states: Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, California, Washington, Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arizona, Minnesota, Michigan, South Carolina, Hawaii, Georgia and Oregon.
That picture of Jesus, the accompanying cross and candlesticks were the only items saved from a 1903 fire, caused by lightning, when the Rev. G.H. Bakken rushed from the nearby parsonage as the 21-year-old wooden structure burned to the ground.
Those items are still seen at least five times per year when the congregation moves services from town to this church, built on a hilltop in 1904. Locals for years have called it the South Church.
Parishioners and the current leader of the flock have rushed, in a sense, to save the church again. Lightning didn't strike; Mother Nature did. Eleven decades of wind, rain, ice and sun atop this Monona County hill weakened the wooden exterior.
Permanent siding emerged as a permanent solution.
Money was an issue. Siding would cost $40,000. There's sticker shock involved when you're forced to raise that much money for a church used only a half-dozen times each year.
"There was some resistance," says the Rev. Meggan Manlove, pastor here for four years.
Manlove called upon fundraising experiences she'd had while working in the development office at her alma mater, Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. She joined four elders in combing recent school reunion lists as well as names entered in the guest book at the seldom-used country church.
The group mailed 230 letters in May, explaining the need to raise $40,000.
The result? Fifty-three responses representing 17 states. It all added up to meeting the goal.
Cook Siding of Wall Lake, Iowa, began siding the church late last week. The project should be done for a rededication service Sept. 14.
One of the letter writers in a faraway state sent $1,000. Others chipped in $5. Of course, there were lots of donors around Soldier.
It showed Manlove the church is truly a community, whether it involves someone from up the street or someone in Hawaii, Florida or Texas.
"This is their congregation," she says.
The effort ensures the tradition of having services here the last Sunday of May (before Memorial Day) and the four or five Sundays of June will continue, as they have for decades. This church, after all, hasn't hosted services year-round since the 1930s.
The cemetery here, however, remains an integral part of the congregation. Of the 24 funerals over which Manlove has presided the past four years, 18 have featured burials in this cemetery. It's a cemetery noted in part for 12 soldiers' graves at the south edge. Those graves are for Soldier's World War I soldiers killed while on active duty.
"Around 200 people attend the Memorial Day Sunday service," Manlove says. "It's like a family reunion."
The cemetery surrounds the church sanctuary.
"Out there you do feel like you're surrounded by the communion of saints," she says.
Parishioner Jim Severson stops by Monday to evaluate the progress. Looking up to the completed south side, Severson steps back and nods. "It's looking good," he says.
"Beautiful," adds Gordon Swenson, another member of the church. "We painted this 11 years ago for $14,000. But like my old house, it just doesn’t hold paint very well."
The siding should hold, offering guests and parishioners the chance to see the South Church in all its historic glory, perhaps for another 100 years.
Donors
Fifty-three respondents sent contributions to a committee in charge of siding the Soldier Lutheran's South Church this summer. They came from these states: Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, California, Washington, Colorado, Florida, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arizona, Minnesota, Michigan, South Carolina, Hawaii, Georgia and Oregon.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 8 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
Kenneth R Stephens wrote on Sep 28, 2008 6:41 PM:
delbert stephens wrote on Sep 18, 2008 3:22 PM:
Ann Britton Uddberg wrote on Aug 28, 2008 9:26 AM:
Brenda Hays wrote on Aug 27, 2008 11:35 PM:
Carol Amundson Adams-Ramos wrote on Aug 26, 2008 5:37 PM: