History of York Memorial Lutheran Church
1855 - 2016
Early History - 1855 - 1884
The York Church history that spans the last 150 years covers the lives of about six generations of the people in our area. So for the early history we will summarize a history written for our 100th Anniversary. Much of the information was taken from the writing of the late Pastor John A. Houkom, secretaries books, annual reports, and traditions.
The community from which York draws its members is located within the borders of four Counties: Green, Iowa, Dane, and Lafayette (including the Village of Blanchardville). We now have several members living in the Village of New Glarus, Mount Horeb, and Verona.
The settlers of this area started to arrive in the early 1850's. Such names as Skartum, Lee, Knutson, Steensland, Nessa, Peterson, Syse, and Swiggum were common. We do well to remember these and the pioneers and the heritage they have left us. They had joys, struggles, sorrows, and disappointments. One of the outstanding characteristics of the Norse immigrants was a deep religious devotion. They came without a pastor but did bring Bibles, prayer books, and the Catechism. They gathered on Sundays at one another's homes with a layman preaching. They longed to worship in a House of God. They missed the chiming of the bells, the chanting, the hymn singing, and an ordained pastor to preach the Word and to baptize the infants, confirm the youth, marry the people, and bury the dead.
God heard and answered the prayers for a church home. In the year of 1855, the Pastor P.A. Rasmussen began visiting the community. This pioneer pastor became well known in the history of Norse Lutheranism in America; he traveled into the States of Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota to preach Christ and to organize churches.
Tradition indicates that the first church meetings were held at the farm home of Torger Skartum that was later purchased by Kittle Jeglum. The first cemetery in York community was located on this farm. It is a fairly well established fact that the first confirmation services was conducted in that home in 1859 at which time Marie Gulson and Ole Jeglum made their confirmation vows. The first school was also erected on this farm. Church services were often conducted, mostly by layman, in this school.
No documented proof shows that a York Church was organized in 185. Still the history of the York Lutheran Church undoubtedly began that year with the coming of Pastor Rasmussen. Pastor Ole Paulson wrote a historical sketch in one of the church records stating that the congregation was organized in 1855, consisting of twenty families. Records show that Pastor J.N. Fjeld succeeded Pastor Rasmussen in 1860.
With the coming of Pastor Fjeld, the congregation started plans for building a church. At an annual business meeting held in the home of Torger Skartum in January of 1861, pledges totaling $800 were secured from 70 members.
The building contract signed on April 8th, 1861, with Neri Hanson included the following provisions: size 30x40x18 at least; four windows of appropriate size on each side; double door on west 8x4; door on east 7x3; all sills to be of oak, all other materials to be of pine; committee to furnish two men to hew timbers on four sides and to help raise the building. The building was to be completed by last of October next; work to cost $152.50; that to be increased to $162.50 if hewing has to be re-done. The amount of $160 was to be paid by June of 1862 with the remaining balance to be paid when the church was completed. Records which show the detailed account of all expenditures include such items as: stone foundation- $23, land- $6, stove- $43.81, hauling load of timber from Monroe- anywhere from $1-3, common labor- $$0.75 per day, yoke of oxen and man- $1.75 per day. The total cost of building without steeple, boarding up of walls and ceiling, and paint was $1,075. It was a hard struggle to get the church built. There were long trips of two to three days duration to Monroe over almost impassable roads to get building materials. But it was completed that Autumn and, although a very simple building, it became the house of worship for York. Further improvements would have to wait until after the Civil War.
The Civil War held up the completion of the structure. Many young men in York answered the call to the colors when the nation was in danger of being divided. Work was resumed after the war and the church was dedicated in 1872, with Pastor P.A. Rasmussen in charge of the service.
Calling a pastor in 1880, at the time of the retirement of Pastor Fjeld, brought inner disagreements and eventually a split in the congregation. One group wanted to call a pastor from the Norwegian Danish Conference, the other from the Norwegian Synod. Pastor T.H. Dahl served on a temporary basis until he was elected conference president. Pastor R.S. Reimstad was called to succeed him in 1883.
Shortly after, the group friendly to the Norwegian Synod organized itself into a new congregation and extended a call to Pastor Peter Isberg. For a time, the two groups continued to use the same church building. In 1884, the group with Pastor Isberg purchased the old church. With the $1,000 received for their share in the church building and the old records, the other group moved across the road and erected a new building. This building was completed in 1885 and dedicated in 1886 by the Revered T.H. Dahl. Thus, the "Old York" and the "New York" Churches came into being.
Two Churches - 1885 -
"The York Norwegian Evangelical Church" - (New York)
Pastor Ole Paulson succeeded Pastor Reimestad in 1885
100th Anniversary - 1955
On Saturday, August, 27th, there was a confirmation reunion, with the theme, "Our Strength from Yesterday". The speaker was the Honorable Luther Sletten, who was the son of the late Dr. O.H. Sletten, who served as pastor from 1905-1910.
On Sunday, August, 28th, there were two worship services. The morning service included the dedication of the new organ. The afternoon service was the anniversary service, and the theme was, "Strength for Tomorrow". Rev. Richard Torgerson was the pastor. The main address given at the service was titled, "Strength for Tomorrow in the Outreaching Areas of the Congregation" and was given by Rev. Torgney Kleven, who was the pastor from 1945-1954.
Clergy -
1855-1860 - Rev. P.A. Rasmussen
1860-1880 - Rev. J.N. Field - retired
1880-1883 - Rev. T.H. Dahl
1883- Rev. R.S. Reimstad - Norwegian Danish Conference
1883- Rev. Peter Isberg - Norwegian Synod
1884 - Old York and New York
New York - 1885 - 1905 - Rev. Ole Paulson Old York -
- 1885-1905 - Rev. Ole Paulson - 1883-1888 - Rev. Peter Isberg
- 1905-1910 - Rev. O.H. Sletten - 1888-1892 - Rev. O.M. Saevig
- 1910-1920 - Rev. H.J. Urdahl - 1892-1903 - Rev. Henrik Voldal
- 1920-1934 - Rev. John A. Houkom - 1903-1904 - Rev. J. Skaar
- 1934-1941 - Rev. Martin J. Olson - 1904-1909 - Rev. Helge Hoverstad
- 1941-1954 - Rev. Torgney Kleven - 1909-1910 - Rev. L.E. Green
- 1954 - Rev. Paul Sonnack - 1910-1923 - Rev. Joseph M. Green
- 1954-1956 - Rev. Richard Torgerson - 1923-1926 - Rev. J.R. Lavik
- 1956-1960 - Rev. Norman Anderson - 1926-1931 - Rev. J.H. Myrang
- 1960-1966 - Rev. "Ed" Swanson - 1932-1950 - Rev. I.A. Lavik
- 1951-1958 - Rev. J. Obert Jorgenson
- 1958-1966 - Rev. Clifford Peterson
York Memorial Lutheran Church
- 1967-1975 - Rev. Joseph R. Hestenes
- 1975-1988 - Rev. Wayne Henderson
- 1988-1996 - Rev. Jeffrey Miller
- 1995-1997 - Rev. Kurt Handrich
- 1997-2001 - Rev. Tom Boll
- 1998- - Rev. Mark Gruner
- 2005- - AIM Gary Bekkering
The York Church history that spans the last 150 years covers the lives of about six generations of the people in our area. So for the early history we will summarize a history written for our 100th Anniversary. Much of the information was taken from the writing of the late Pastor John A. Houkom, secretaries books, annual reports, and traditions.
The community from which York draws its members is located within the borders of four Counties: Green, Iowa, Dane, and Lafayette (including the Village of Blanchardville). We now have several members living in the Village of New Glarus, Mount Horeb, and Verona.
The settlers of this area started to arrive in the early 1850's. Such names as Skartum, Lee, Knutson, Steensland, Nessa, Peterson, Syse, and Swiggum were common. We do well to remember these and the pioneers and the heritage they have left us. They had joys, struggles, sorrows, and disappointments. One of the outstanding characteristics of the Norse immigrants was a deep religious devotion. They came without a pastor but did bring Bibles, prayer books, and the Catechism. They gathered on Sundays at one another's homes with a layman preaching. They longed to worship in a House of God. They missed the chiming of the bells, the chanting, the hymn singing, and an ordained pastor to preach the Word and to baptize the infants, confirm the youth, marry the people, and bury the dead.
God heard and answered the prayers for a church home. In the year of 1855, the Pastor P.A. Rasmussen began visiting the community. This pioneer pastor became well known in the history of Norse Lutheranism in America; he traveled into the States of Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota to preach Christ and to organize churches.
Tradition indicates that the first church meetings were held at the farm home of Torger Skartum that was later purchased by Kittle Jeglum. The first cemetery in York community was located on this farm. It is a fairly well established fact that the first confirmation services was conducted in that home in 1859 at which time Marie Gulson and Ole Jeglum made their confirmation vows. The first school was also erected on this farm. Church services were often conducted, mostly by layman, in this school.
No documented proof shows that a York Church was organized in 185. Still the history of the York Lutheran Church undoubtedly began that year with the coming of Pastor Rasmussen. Pastor Ole Paulson wrote a historical sketch in one of the church records stating that the congregation was organized in 1855, consisting of twenty families. Records show that Pastor J.N. Fjeld succeeded Pastor Rasmussen in 1860.
With the coming of Pastor Fjeld, the congregation started plans for building a church. At an annual business meeting held in the home of Torger Skartum in January of 1861, pledges totaling $800 were secured from 70 members.
The building contract signed on April 8th, 1861, with Neri Hanson included the following provisions: size 30x40x18 at least; four windows of appropriate size on each side; double door on west 8x4; door on east 7x3; all sills to be of oak, all other materials to be of pine; committee to furnish two men to hew timbers on four sides and to help raise the building. The building was to be completed by last of October next; work to cost $152.50; that to be increased to $162.50 if hewing has to be re-done. The amount of $160 was to be paid by June of 1862 with the remaining balance to be paid when the church was completed. Records which show the detailed account of all expenditures include such items as: stone foundation- $23, land- $6, stove- $43.81, hauling load of timber from Monroe- anywhere from $1-3, common labor- $$0.75 per day, yoke of oxen and man- $1.75 per day. The total cost of building without steeple, boarding up of walls and ceiling, and paint was $1,075. It was a hard struggle to get the church built. There were long trips of two to three days duration to Monroe over almost impassable roads to get building materials. But it was completed that Autumn and, although a very simple building, it became the house of worship for York. Further improvements would have to wait until after the Civil War.
The Civil War held up the completion of the structure. Many young men in York answered the call to the colors when the nation was in danger of being divided. Work was resumed after the war and the church was dedicated in 1872, with Pastor P.A. Rasmussen in charge of the service.
Calling a pastor in 1880, at the time of the retirement of Pastor Fjeld, brought inner disagreements and eventually a split in the congregation. One group wanted to call a pastor from the Norwegian Danish Conference, the other from the Norwegian Synod. Pastor T.H. Dahl served on a temporary basis until he was elected conference president. Pastor R.S. Reimstad was called to succeed him in 1883.
Shortly after, the group friendly to the Norwegian Synod organized itself into a new congregation and extended a call to Pastor Peter Isberg. For a time, the two groups continued to use the same church building. In 1884, the group with Pastor Isberg purchased the old church. With the $1,000 received for their share in the church building and the old records, the other group moved across the road and erected a new building. This building was completed in 1885 and dedicated in 1886 by the Revered T.H. Dahl. Thus, the "Old York" and the "New York" Churches came into being.
Two Churches - 1885 -
"The York Norwegian Evangelical Church" - (New York)
Pastor Ole Paulson succeeded Pastor Reimestad in 1885
100th Anniversary - 1955
On Saturday, August, 27th, there was a confirmation reunion, with the theme, "Our Strength from Yesterday". The speaker was the Honorable Luther Sletten, who was the son of the late Dr. O.H. Sletten, who served as pastor from 1905-1910.
On Sunday, August, 28th, there were two worship services. The morning service included the dedication of the new organ. The afternoon service was the anniversary service, and the theme was, "Strength for Tomorrow". Rev. Richard Torgerson was the pastor. The main address given at the service was titled, "Strength for Tomorrow in the Outreaching Areas of the Congregation" and was given by Rev. Torgney Kleven, who was the pastor from 1945-1954.
Clergy -
1855-1860 - Rev. P.A. Rasmussen
1860-1880 - Rev. J.N. Field - retired
1880-1883 - Rev. T.H. Dahl
1883- Rev. R.S. Reimstad - Norwegian Danish Conference
1883- Rev. Peter Isberg - Norwegian Synod
1884 - Old York and New York
New York - 1885 - 1905 - Rev. Ole Paulson Old York -
- 1885-1905 - Rev. Ole Paulson - 1883-1888 - Rev. Peter Isberg
- 1905-1910 - Rev. O.H. Sletten - 1888-1892 - Rev. O.M. Saevig
- 1910-1920 - Rev. H.J. Urdahl - 1892-1903 - Rev. Henrik Voldal
- 1920-1934 - Rev. John A. Houkom - 1903-1904 - Rev. J. Skaar
- 1934-1941 - Rev. Martin J. Olson - 1904-1909 - Rev. Helge Hoverstad
- 1941-1954 - Rev. Torgney Kleven - 1909-1910 - Rev. L.E. Green
- 1954 - Rev. Paul Sonnack - 1910-1923 - Rev. Joseph M. Green
- 1954-1956 - Rev. Richard Torgerson - 1923-1926 - Rev. J.R. Lavik
- 1956-1960 - Rev. Norman Anderson - 1926-1931 - Rev. J.H. Myrang
- 1960-1966 - Rev. "Ed" Swanson - 1932-1950 - Rev. I.A. Lavik
- 1951-1958 - Rev. J. Obert Jorgenson
- 1958-1966 - Rev. Clifford Peterson
York Memorial Lutheran Church
- 1967-1975 - Rev. Joseph R. Hestenes
- 1975-1988 - Rev. Wayne Henderson
- 1988-1996 - Rev. Jeffrey Miller
- 1995-1997 - Rev. Kurt Handrich
- 1997-2001 - Rev. Tom Boll
- 1998- - Rev. Mark Gruner
- 2005- - AIM Gary Bekkering