Minnekirken

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Coordinates: 41°55′43″N 87°42′29″W / 41.928711, -87.708111

Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church (Norwegian Den Norske Lutherske Minnekirke), better known as Minnekirken, is a Lutheran church in Chicago in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is one of two American churches still using Norwegian as a primary liturgical language, the other being Mindekirken in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[1]


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[edit] Background

Minnekirken, means "Memorial Church" in Norwegian. It is located at 2614 N. Kedzie Boulevard in an area known to Chicagoans as Logan Square. The neighborhood surrounding the church is typical of Chicago's North Side neighborhoods and reflective of a diversity of languages and cultures.In the neighborhood these days, one predominantly hears Spanish spoken in several dialects representing different Hispanic cultures. Minnekirken serves as a reminder of a neighborhood heritage long past in which scandinavians played a significant part. During the first half of this century there were several Norwegian language churches in the Logan Square area and over 20 Norwegian churches in the metropolitan area. Today, Minnekirken is the last remaining Norwegian language church within a radius of 400 miles of the city.

The church continues to host activities, besides church services, including Norwegian cooking classes and the Julejentene Christmas Bazaar.


[edit] History

Minnekirken was first built by Norwegian immigrants as Christ Church in 1912. In 1934, the name was changed to its present name, in part because of the war memorial which was dedicated that year in the center of the circular thoroughfare located across from the church. [2]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Grodahl Biever, Joe (2004). "The Founding of Mindekirken" University of Minnesota.
  2. ^ Norwegian National League. http://nnleague.org/church.htm