‘THE MUSICAL CHURCH’ STANDS THE TEST OF TIME
After 110 years, Skudesnes Lutheran still ‘blessed’ by support
In 2016, Skudesnes Lutheran Church near Loreburn marked its 110th anniversary.
Gerri and Ross Vollmer have been part of Skudesnes Church all their lives, as have their families. Gerri Vollmer’s step-grandfather and Ross’s grandmother and her two sisters were among the contingent of Norwegian settlers who made their way to the Loreburn district via South Dakota in the early years of the last century.
“My grandmother and sisters came as single women and married Norwegian men here,” Ross says. “Many of us in the congregation are related.”
The settlers came from the Skudesnes region on the west coast of Norway, and apparently brought the name with them.
The congregation’s first pastor was Rev. Ingvald Hustvedt who was ordained in 1904 in the Free Church. Hustvedt lived in Hanley and travelled from there to preach in places as far west as the Broderick district, Elbow, and east beyond Craik.
According to the church history book, Hustvedt’s first visit to the Skudesnes area was in 1904. He preached his first sermon in the home of Odin Jacobsen in the summer of 1905.
The first couple in the area to be married by Pastor Hustvedt were Bernhart Berg and Tolline Sather. The wedding took place in the Olaf Berg home.
Services were initially held in settlers’ shacks and sod houses, but with the influx of settlers in 1906, it became apparent a larger worship space was necessary. Services were held outdoors in summer, but since the prairie offered few trees to shade worshippers, the men of the congregation decided to build a large bower beside Olaf Berg’s house. Green trees and branches were brought from the banks of the South Saskatchewan River 25 kilometres away.
The congregation held its first official meeting on Aug. 1, 1906, in what was referred to as the Bower Church, recalls Gerri, who is the current office secretary for Skudesnes Lutheran Church.
Two years later, plans were made for a permanent church building. Fundraising was a challenge, and Lutherans in other settlements were canvassed. The foundation was laid in 1908 and the church was built the following year.
The church was a plain building with neither spire nor basement. A spire was added in 1912, and the basement and chancel area in 1929. In more recent years, a church member purchased a church bell at auction and had it put up.
“The bell has become quite meaningful,” Gerri says. “Our cemetery is in the church yard and many families ask for the bell to be rung as their loved one’s coffin is carried to the grave site.”
The interior of the church is mostly original, though the windows were changed, thanks to a hailstorm that smashed the originals and soaked the hymnals.
In 1945 the first Bible Camp Week was held on the Skudesnes Church grounds. A tent served as the girls’ dormitory; the boys slept in the barn. The church was used for classes and meals. The following year camp moved to the present Elbow camp site.
Skudesnes Church has always had a strong emphasis on music, and was known by many as ‘the musical church.’ The congregation was wellknown for its mixed choir, male chorus, and various vocal groups.
Services at Skudesnes were conducted in the Norwegian language into the ’40s. Then Norwegian was used on alternate Sundays until services became exclusively English.
Another institution in the early years was Norwegian Religious School which was held for six weeks in summer.
A number of ‘congregation sons’ entered the ministry. One, Dr. Ted Jacobson, became president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church before it became part of the ELCIC.
A gala celebration was held in 2006 to mark the church’s 100th anniversary. “Our daughter Alison made a patchwork wall hanging in honour of her grandparents on both sides,” Gerri says. “The hanging features the church, and the border is made from neckties from the men of the congregation, many of whom have passed away.”
“One hundred and 10 years later, we give credit to the pioneers,” Ross says. “Our numbers are much smaller, but we’re fortunate to have a faithful group. We share our current pastor, Sonje Finnestad, with Redeemer Lutheran Church in Davidson.”
Maintaining the church is a financial challenge, “but we have amazing support from people who were part of the church in former years,” Gerri says.
“One widow lady moved to Saskatoon, but continued to send us a small donation every month throughout her life. It meant so much, and helped to keep us going. We feel blessed.”