Our Savior's Lutheran Church (Cranfills Gap, Texas)
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Our Savior's Lutheran Church, originally Vor Frelsers Kirke is a Lutheran church located near Cranfills Gap, Texas in an unincorporated community known as Norse, Texas.
[edit] History
The congregation for Our Savior's Lutheran Church was organized on June 14, 1869 by Norwegian Settlers of Bosque County, Texas. The church itself was constructed between 1875 and 1885. As the congregation grew, it became necessary to build another church in the western part of the Norwegian settlement. This church, St. Olaf Kirke, started as an extension of the Our Savior's Lutheran congregation upon completion of the church in 1886, but eventually became an independent congregation in 1902.
The congregation was historically a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, which first merged with the American Lutheran Church, before finally merging with other Lutheran churches to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The cemetery on the church property serves as the burial site for a number of original Norwegian settlers of the area, including Cleng Peerson, considered to be the "father" of Norwegian immigration to the United States. Recently a monument was laid just outside of the church's cemetery recognizing the 17 original Norwegian settlers of Bosque County.
[edit] Current Status
Our Savior's Lutheran Church continues to be used for regular church services. The congregation consists of nearly 300 members and is currently affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.[1] The current pastor is the Rev. Beverly A. Blackman.
The church is located at 31° 46' 21"N, 97° 40' 43"W (NAD83/WGS84).
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