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Assiniboia Messiah Lutheran Church sign
25 October 2005
Assiniboia,Saskatchewan

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Chapter Four

Lutherans in South Central Saskatchewan

In the very early 1900s the Norwegian immigrants brought the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church to this area. The German immigrants, belonged to the American Lutheran Church, and the Swedish and Danish were members of the Augustana Lutheran Church.

In 1962 the Assiniboia Messiah hosted the last Conference of Augustana Synod before the merger with the other synods to become the Lutheran Church of America.

H.F. Johnson resided in Assiniboia but served a mission field that went north of Mossbank to Grand Valley and east of Lisieux, Viceroy and Coronach.

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Assiniboia Area Emmanuel Lutheran Church
1918
Assiniboia (area), Saskatchewan

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Assiniboia Area Emmanuel Lutheran Church

The building site and cemetery is on four acres of the E 16-9-29-2 once owned by George Brown. Organized in 1913 as Immanuel (Swedish spelling) Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, the building was dedicated September 29th, 1918. Depression took its toll on buildings, but following this the congregation revived in 1952 when Messiah organized in Assiniboia. Emmanuel and Messiah became a two congregation parish. In January 1966 Emmanuel joined Messiah. Since 1994 it became known as 'Emmanuel Prairie Gardens' with a well kept cemetery, new entry gate, bell and new building foundation. The church is still used for special services.

During WWII it was a favorite of many R.A.F. personnel who were training or instructing at the nearby airport. Emmanuel is even in some photo collections in Britain today.

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Assiniboia Messiah Lutheran (First Building)
1953
Assiniboia,Saskatchewan

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Assiniboia Messiah Lutheran Church 1st Building

Messiah Lutheran Church of Assiniboia was organized as part of the Canada Conference of Augustana Synod June 1, 1952. The members were remnants of different Lutheran Bodies. Known today (2005) as Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (E.L.C.I.C.)

A church building was purchased and moved from Archive, Sask. It was sold in 1959 to the Baptist congregation in Ormiston.

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Assiniboia Messiah Lutheran Church (present day)
1960
Assiniboia,Saskatchewan

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Assiniboia Messiah Lutheran Church Present

Messiah's new structure was completed and dedicated December 4, 1960. In 1966 the members of the Emmanuel Church of R.M. Lake of The Rivers became part of Messiah.

In 1982-83 an enlargement and renovation to the church took place with dedication in the fall 1983. It is currently served by a resident pastor.

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Bateman Peace Lutheran
1910
Bateman, Saskatchewan

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Bateman Peace Lutheran

This congregation was formed in 1909 with worship in peoples' homes.

The church was built in 1910 approximately 10 k (6 miles) south east of Bateman. Later, a parsonage was also built.

In 1919 the church became affiliated with the Missouri Synod due to lack of ministers from the Ohio Synod.

The parsonage was moved to Bateman in 1950 as well as the church in 1951.

A Federated Parish was formed in 1972 with St. Paul's Gravelbourg and Trinity in Mossbank. Peace Lutheran Church was closed on June 28, 1998.

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Bengough Zion Lutheran
1930
Bengough, Saskatchewan

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Bengough Zion Lutheran

This Lutheran congregation was organized March 21, 1913 with O.B. Sanders, from Ettington, as the first pastor. It was located on SE 26-4-24 W2, 8K (five miles) south of Bengough along #34 Highway.

The earliest services were held in homes and later in Lambton School.

In 1926 it was decided to have alternate service in the English language which was previously only in Norwegian.

In June 1930 excavation began and was completed that season, but the interior was never finished. In 1933, the congregation was unable to afford the pastor's salary - it had been $200.00 in 1929.

Church was sold and the proceeds from this sale were donated to the Bengough Knox United Church.

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Congress St Lukas Lutheran
1929
Congress, Saskatchewan

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Congress St. Lukas Lutheran

Settlers, predominately Norwegians, were first pastored about 1908 by a traveling preacher, M.O. Waldahl. At this time many Lutheran weddings were performed by Pastor G.P. Molberg of the Baptist Church.

In 1914 a parsonage was built at Ettington and Pastor O.B. Hanson was first to reside there. Later a parsonage was erected in Mossbank.

Nels Kleppe donated land NW of Assiniboia for a churchyard and cemetery. In 1929 the church was built in Congress, but the steeple was never finished due to the Depression years.

The Westerheim congregation south of Vantage joined St. Lukas in 1921. Norwegian language was used in the early years. It was a mission point from Mossbank.

This congregation ceased November 1959 with many becoming members of the Messiah Lutheran Church of Assiniboia. The church building was moved to Verwood in 1963 aiding with the renovations of St. John's Lutheran Church there.