| Creator |
Andover UMC (Swedish) |
| Object ID |
09-2005.2.04 |
| Object Name |
Documents |
| Dates of Accumulation |
1856-1999 |
| Abstract |
The papers in this folder were the property of the district superintendent and mostly correspondence between the church members and the ds regarding the procedures for closing the church. Membership transfer letters give members' intentions of transferring to other congregations. |
| Admin/Biog History |
Gustaf Peter Hoflund founded the Andover Swedish Church in 1848. In August 1849, Jonas Hedstrom founded the first Swedish MEC in America in Andover at the home of Anna Gustafson. Rev. Hedstrom had originally founded the "Bethel Ship" in NY harbor. The Andover SMEC congregation had 74 members by 1850.
The first church building was completed in 1854 and a larger church built in 1864. The members built a parsonage in 1855. A fire destroyed the parsonage and most of the church records in 1914. A second parsonage was built and used until 1930. In 1965, members installed a bell in the church tower for the first time and removed in 1981, donated to Bourbanais Grace.
In 1888, the women organized a Ladies Aid.
Due to declining membership, the members voted to close in 1999. |
| Collection |
IGRC Closed Church |
| Level of description |
Folder |
| Recfrom |
Andover UMC (Swedish) |
| Search Terms |
Henry County/Galesburg District/Spoon River District/Andover/SMEC/ |
| Title |
Closure Documents and Correspondence |
|
