Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/429

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 361 to begin work immediately. In the latter part of May the old church was torn down, and on the 20th of June the first stone was laid. August 1, the cornerstone was laid by Dr. E. Norelius, who was then president of the Minnesota Conference. On Thanks- giving day the first churehly rite took place in the new structure, when C. A. K. Johnson and Miss Hilma S. Erickson were united in marriage. On December 20 the first service was held. The old pulpit, pews and other church furnishings were used until 1899, when the present church furnishings were installed. On August 13, 1899, the new church, fully completed, was dedicated by Dr. Norelius, assisted by Dr. Rast, the pastor of the church, and seven visiting clergymen. The new church is built of gray limestone in Gothic archi- tecture. Its dimensions are 60x80 feet, with a side chapel 30x50 feet. The tower is 130 feet high. The total cost of the building was $23,000, but conservative estimates value the building now at $40,000. It is fully paid for. The altar painting, a copy of Plockhorst's noted work, representing Christ walking on the sea, and painted by Prof. O. Grafstrbm, Rock Island, 111., was donated to the church by the Junior Mission Society, paying $315 for it. A hell, weighing 2,800 pounds and costing $800, was donated by Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Malm. The pulpit is a gift of Mrs. N. Akenson, the pews are circular and made of quartered red oak. Memorial art glass windows were put in by Mrs. T. K. Simmons, Mrs. Clara Youngdahl, J. G. Gustafson's children, Anders Lindgren's children, Hakan Olson's children, the young people 's society, and the choir. During the year 1909 the entire floor was covered with cork carpet, donated by the Dorcas Society at an expense of over $500. The chancel was carpeted by the Ladies' Aid Society with green velvet carpets, the side chapel was furnished with lecture room chairs, also a gift from the Ladies' Aid Society. The AYilling Workers paid for new pews and choir chairs in the gallery. Parsonage. In 1871 the first church was remodeled and i ■< | nipped as a parsonage at a cost of $700. In 1888 a lot was bought on the southwest corner of Fifth and Fulton streets for $1,000, and in 1889 the present spacious building, having eleven rooms, was erected at a cost of $4,000. Pastors. Dr. Norelius. who organized the congregation, served as its first pastor until November. 1858, and again from 1862 until 1868. From 1859 to 1861 the Rev. J. P. C. Boreen served as pastor. He moved to Stockholm, AYis., where lie died in March, 1865. He was buried at Vasa. November 1, 1869. a call was extended to the Rev. P. Sjdbloro