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"Thousand Islands" was the name given to the settlement which was later changed to South Santiago, which marked our beginning in 1891. It was then that three Scandinavian families from Mower County, Minnesota, took homesteads in this area. They were Augund Aslakson, Ole Amundsen, and Halvor Olsen.
These pioneers felt a need for establishing a Lutheran congregation, and they met at the home of Halvor Olsen to decided where and when to meet. The first worship service was held on October 31, 1882 at a member's home. On November 20, 1882, at Ole Amundsen's home, the congregation was officially organized. They decided to name to be "Santiago Norwegian Danish Evangelical Lutheran Congregation." In 1927 the name was changed to "South Santiago Evangelical Lutheran Church."
At the beginning, worship was held in various homes. The original log church was built in 1888, and served as a meeting place for about eighteen years. A new and larger church was needed, and plans were drawn. The cornerstone for this new church was laid in 1904, and finished in 1906. The congregation met for worship in that building until January 1999, when the church burned to the ground, from an arsonist's torch.
From January 1999 to May 2002, the congregation met and worshiped at St. Lawerence Catholic Church in Duelm, MN. We are blessed to have such welcoming neighbors that opened their hearts and doors to allow us to continue to follow our mission as witnesses to God.
The present church building was opened for worship on June 23, 2002. We received many generous donations of materials, furnishings and offerings toward our new congregational home.
All the men and women who have worked many hours at South Santiago Lutheran should not go unmentioned. We gratefully acknowledge the talents of all those who have given so willing to help make 100+ years of working and praying together through God's grace.
These pioneers felt a need for establishing a Lutheran congregation, and they met at the home of Halvor Olsen to decided where and when to meet. The first worship service was held on October 31, 1882 at a member's home. On November 20, 1882, at Ole Amundsen's home, the congregation was officially organized. They decided to name to be "Santiago Norwegian Danish Evangelical Lutheran Congregation." In 1927 the name was changed to "South Santiago Evangelical Lutheran Church."
At the beginning, worship was held in various homes. The original log church was built in 1888, and served as a meeting place for about eighteen years. A new and larger church was needed, and plans were drawn. The cornerstone for this new church was laid in 1904, and finished in 1906. The congregation met for worship in that building until January 1999, when the church burned to the ground, from an arsonist's torch.
From January 1999 to May 2002, the congregation met and worshiped at St. Lawerence Catholic Church in Duelm, MN. We are blessed to have such welcoming neighbors that opened their hearts and doors to allow us to continue to follow our mission as witnesses to God.
The present church building was opened for worship on June 23, 2002. We received many generous donations of materials, furnishings and offerings toward our new congregational home.
All the men and women who have worked many hours at South Santiago Lutheran should not go unmentioned. We gratefully acknowledge the talents of all those who have given so willing to help make 100+ years of working and praying together through God's grace.