History: We Have Come This Far By Faith

Life was uncertain in the new territory of Minnesota in 1857. It was here, in the small hamlet of Cannon Falls, that several Swedish families, led by Eric Norelius, came together to worship and establish a congregation. A place where they could give thanks in their native language with familiar prayers and hymns from their homeland.

 

By 1862, several of the families had homesteaded northeast of Cannon Falls and they built our first church in Section 3. The old cemetery is located there as a testament to our deepest roots.

 

In 1878 the congregation decided to build a new church in Section 1, to be central to the members. A beautiful church with a tall steeple, a bell and stained-glass windows stood high on the hill overlooking the Cannon River Valley. For 85 years that bell would echo throughout the valley calling members to church from both sides of the river.

 

In 1963 the church steeple was hit by lightning and our church burned. Faith was still strong in our members as we built a new church building in the same place. The present church was dedicated in June of 1964 and is still nestled quietly in the peaceful surroundings provided by the Cannon River Valley.