Rosendale Township near St. James in Watonwan County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Rosendale Church

August 14, 2023

1. Rosendale Church Marker

Inscription. Established in 1859 with a membership of 40 Scandinavian settlers, the Rosendale congregation waited 50 years for this church, built in 1909. Originally called "Our Savior's", this first Lutheran congregation in Watonwan County met in members' homes until the District 2 schoolhouse was built in 1873. During those early years, the congregation was served by three distinguished pastors: Peter Laurentius Larsen, first president of Luther College from 1861 to 1902; Bernt Julius Muus, recognized as the founder of St. Olaf College in 1874, and Johannes Bjerk Frich, president of Luther Seminary from 1888 to 1902.

Although sustaining a full-time minister on limited resources was a constant problem, the little congregation survived for 116 years, sharing pastors with other small communities, improving facilities, and celebrating its 100th anniversary with services attended by over 400 people. Only when faced with a hopeless situation of declining membership and increased costs did the Rosendale congregation finally give up their church. The last services in the church were held on August 17, 1975.

Erected 1976 by the Watonwan

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1859.

Location. 44° 0.032′ N, 94° 30.929′ W. Marker is near St. James, Minnesota, in Watonwan County. It is in Rosendale Township. It is on 335th Street (County Highway 16) 0.3 miles west of 780th Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 77676 335th St, Madelia MN 56062, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Minnesota. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ole Boxrud (approx. 0.7 miles away); Site of Capture of the Younger Brothers (approx. 5 miles away); Truss Bridge #6527 (approx. 5.2 miles away);

August 14, 2023

2. Rosendale Church & Marker

To the Citizenry of Madelia – 1876 (approx. 5.9 miles away); Watonwan County's First Courthouse (approx. 6 miles away); Fort Cox (approx. 6.1 miles away); Lake Hanska (approx. 8.7 miles away); Lake Hanska Pioneer / Lake Hanska County Park (approx. 8.7 miles away).

Rosendale Church Marker, from the west image. Click for full size.

August 14, 2023

3. Rosendale Church Marker, from the west

Rosendale Church image. Click for full size.

August 14, 2023

4. Rosendale Church

Credits. This page was last revised on September 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2023. This page has been viewed 544 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 16, 2023.