On the edge of downtown Minneapolis, just off Franklin Avenue is Den Norske Lutherske Mindekirke, the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church, commonly called Mindekirken. This church was founded seventy-five years ago on Jan 9, 1922. At that time this area was teeming with Norwegians, part of the last wave of immigration in the early 1900's. This last group of immigrants were city dwellers, part of the modest working class that made up most immigrants of the period. Minneapolis had become known as the Mecca of the immigrant Norwegians. Their presence was felt and continues to be felt in many ways in the popular culture of the region. A very important and lasting influence of the Norwegian-American community was through the many Norwegian-Lutheran congregations throughout the area.

By the year 1922, The US was a changed nation. The US. and the world had just experienced the horrors of the Great War. The death and destruction and unsatisfactory and unfinished peace process, caused many to question who we were and what we were as a nation. This uncertainty fueled an already growing feeling of nativism - a distrust of anything and anyone foreign. The churches also felt this pressure. Many services were held in native languages at the time. That was soon to change. In 1900 almost all services for Norwegian-American Lutheran churches were held in Norwegian. By 1925 it would be about half. By 1945 there would be almost none.

Into these times Mindekirken was begun. For many in the church giving up the language of their faith was unthinkable. Norwegians came with two things to the new world - their love of their mother country and their faith. It may be difficult to understand today, but remember that these people left their homes thousands of miles away. They did not come out of persecution or bitterness of their homeland. They came for much the same reason people do today, the promise of economic opportunity for themselves and their children. With today's sense of diversity, it does not seem reasonable that they should abandon all that was left behind. We are all products of a long line of cultural experiences - it shapes who we are, giving identity and purpose to our lives.

To the founders of Mindekirken the one thing they couldn't give up was the right to worship in their native language. A small group led by the efforts of Rev. C. J. Eastvold, President of the Southeastern District of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America, held meetings to plan and promote a Norwegian speaking congregation. This group composed of six men and one woman did the initial work spreading the word among potential interested parties. After a public meeting showing support, the congregation was organized with 22 charter members on Jan 9, 1922. Their purpose was clear and simple; to establish a church where the services would be provided in Norwegian for as long as anyone would hear it and understand it.

At about that time the centennial celebration of the first Norwegian - Americans immigrants from 1825 took place. The counter effect of nativism was to cause many ethnic groups to celebrate their ethnicity in the context of being American. The Centennial celebration was such an event.

There were parades in downtown Minneapolis, retailers welcomed and praised the Norwegian culture in its advertising, thousands came to the St. Paul Fairgrounds where they could experience reawakened pride in their ethnic identity to complement the new robe of Americanism. In this context there was interest in establishing a place that could be a permanent memorial to the immigrants. It happened that Mindekirken was in the midst of it's fundraising, and the two ideas fit well. Organizers outside of the congregation promoted plans for an impressive large structure. The congregation had been planning a more modest brick structure to serve their small congregation. The compromise was the current church, a smaller yet impressive building built of stone with a bell tower and large stained glass windows.

Although there was much support, the cost was high, about $185,000 for the building, organ and tower chimes. In order to finish the building it was necessary to obtain financing. This was done by the sale of bonds in March and May of 1929, not an uncommon way to finance church buildings at the time. It was during this time that the name was finalized as Den Norske Lutherske Mindekirke. Prior to this they were simply known as Den Norske Lutherske Menighet - the Norwegian congregation. The building was finished and dedicated on May 4,1930 with much publicity and fanfare. It was a proud happy crowd that attended.

Difficult times were to follow. The depression set in making it almost impossible for the bonds to be paid. Even though there had been public support for the building of Mindekirken, the responsibility lay with the congregation for it's finances. There were times when it seemed that the church would not survive. In the end an arrangement was made through a loan from the Sons of Norway, to pay the debt at a reduced amount. The pastor at the time Rev. Elias Rasmussen, who became the longest serving pastor of the congregation from 1933 to 1958, spent many hours visiting the bondholders to get agreement to the new terms. It is a story of sacrifice and dedication on the part of the congregation and their minister and the bondholders.

Since that time Mindekirken has maintained it's original purpose of continuing to worship in Norwegian, the only Norwegian-American congregation to hold weekly services in Norwegian. While it was and is a place of worship first, over time an evolution has taken place. Mindekirken has become a place to "come home to" Norwegian - American roots. It has become a place to connect with the cultural experience of being Norwegian-American, and a place to experience a more current connection with the culture and language of Norway today.

In the beginning the cultural activities were a natural extension of the people who worshipped at Mindekirken. The women of the church always organized events surrounding food or crafts that benefited the church. This continues today. Each fall the renowned Bake Sale and Treasure Chest Sale offer a chance to buy some hardanger embroidery or authentic Nordic wool hand knit mittens, among the many craft items. Hours are still spent in the kitchen making fattigman or lefsa, with many others joining in at their homes to contribute favorites like rosettes and krumkake. And the shoppers can enjoy a lunch of open faced sandwiches and blotkake while deciding on their purchases. You have to come early though. A line often forms an hour in advance.

The services have expanded over time; a 9 o'clock English service was added in 1973 along with English Sunday School, but the Norwegian service continues to be the mainstay, with people flocking in for special days - Easter, Christmas, and of course the 17th of May service with a traditional parade the highlight of the day. The current pastor Rev. Gunnar T. Kristiansen will be returning to Norway at the end of 1999. A search for a new pastor from Norway is underway. All of the pastors have come from Norway except one, and he took a call to become pastor of the American church in Norway.

Each Sunday Kirkekaffe (church coffee) is served following the service. Although many boast of the best cup of coffee in town, it's hard to say if it's really the coffee or the friendly relaxed atmosphere that makes it such a favorite. Visitors and guests, whether from Norway or across town get a special welcome and introduction. And there's more opportunities to visit each Tuesday at the "Open House" where members and visitors gather to communicate in Norwegian and catch up on current events in Norway while enjoying the well known waffles with their coffee.

The Leiv Eriksson International Festival, in it's  12th year brings guest artists from Norway and displays the local talent as well. It's purpose is to continue the ties with the current day culture of Norway.

The church is known for its fine music, with a group of talented young people who perform periodically. Several members of the church are fine musicians, amateur and professional who often contribute their talents for the worship service and in organizing and performing in several concerts a year.

The choir sings most Sundays, often in Norwegian, but they also perform a variety of music under the direction of the church organist Jim Reilly.

Lest the main purpose of the church seem minimized by this, there is a weekly group of ladies who work diligently on making quilts and organizing funding events in the support of missions. The support of mission was an early part of the Norwegian-American women's involvement with the church and one that continues today.

The 75th Anniversary year was celebrated by several events throughout the year. In January a "Founder's Day" celebration featured an old fashioned service, a pot luck lunch and a skit based on the beginning year of the congregation. On March 16th, the annual choir concert featured a specially commissioned piece of music by Bjarne Sløgedal, a well known composer and organist in Norway. On April 19th, a program and banquet took place at the church featuring the young musicians of the congregation.  Of course there are so many wonderful events at Mindekirken that it seems like a celebration at each one.

And the future? Recently work has begun on plans for expansion of the building to offer space not only for the varied cultural events but in hopes that the church can be an active supporting member of the community where it is located. And the future? Recently work has begun on plans for expansion of the building to offer space not only for the varied cultural events but in hopes that the church can be an active supporting member of the community where it is located. And the future? 

Waldemar Agar, a supporter of ethnic identity, in a speech to the Norwegian Society of America in 1903, pondered the role of ethnicity in a quote that seems to hold true today. You could substitute any ethnic group in the quote and still have the same meaning.

"If we contribute anything it must be on the basis of our Norwegian heritage. We do not say it is greater or better. But we must say that it is ours and we must make our cultural contribution on the basis of it if we are to offer anything at all of value to make the country richer."

Even though Mindekirken remains rooted in its "Norwegianess", it is open to and welcomes anyone who hears the call of faith.