Rockford First Lutheran Church Records, 1853-2005 | Northern Illinois University

The first series contains the church’s historical files. 

The files dating 1854-1979 are arranged alphabetically by subject and the files dating 1853-1899 are arranged chronologically.   Series two contains minutes, reports, correspondence and agreements from the administrative bodies of the church.

All materials in this series are arranged chronologically with each subseries.   In all cases materials are arranged chronologically by type.  The records of several church organizations make up series four. Records of official pastoral acts and membership are found in series six.

In the fall of 1853 Dr. Erland Carlsson of Chicago visited the new Scandinavian community in Rockford to see if it was feasible to organize a new congregation.  As a result of this meeting a formal petition was sent to the United Chicago and Mississippi Conference requesting that a pastor be sent to Rockford to organize a church.  Dr. Carlsson returned to Rockford on January 15, 1854 and met with the group to organize the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran congregation.  The congregation’s first deacons were John Peterson and Jonas Larson and the trustees chosen were John Lundback and Joseph Lindgren.  The new church’s first regular pastor, Andress Andreen, began his duties in 1856.

From 1854 to 1860 First Lutheran belonged to the Synod of Northern Illinois but in 1860 the congregation decided to join the newly created Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod of North America.  This synod became predominantly Swedish-American in 1870 when Norwegian Lutherans withdrew their congregation.  The tremendous growth of the Swedish community in Rockford after the Civil War led to increased membership rolls at First Lutheran.  To accommodate this growth the church erected three new structures in 1865, 1870 and the building currently in use, 1884.  Despite a split in the congregation in 1883, which led to the formation of a new church, First Lutheran’s growth continued and the church expanded its activities.  Among the many organizations founded during the last half of the 19th century were: Sunday School, 1853; Temperance Society, 1857; Savings Bank, 1869; Youth Society, 1878; Ladies Aid Society, 1883; and Women’s Missionary Society, 1890.

In addition to their church activities, many of First Lutheran’s members were beginning to make their mark in Rockford’s business community, especially in the knitting and furniture industries.  John Nelson moved to the forefront of the knitting industry when he perfected and patented a machine which would knit a stocking automatically.  Besides his role in the Nelson Knitting Co., John Nelson also helped to organize the Rockford Mitten Co. in 1881.  The furniture industry attracted many of First Lutheran’s members including S. A. Johnson, L. M. Noling, August Peterson and A. P. Floberg who were the chief officers of the Central Furniture Co. organized in 1879.  Several other furniture companies, including Forest City Furniture Co. and Union Furniture Co. were organized by members of First Lutheran and provided employment for many members.

As the congregation approached its 50th anniversary in 1904, First Lutheran had grown to become one of the largest Swedish Lutheran congregations in the United States and one of the dominant forces in the spiritual, economic, and political life of Rockford.  The history of First Lutheran in the twentieth century revolves around the lengthy pastorates of Johann F. Seedhoff (1896-1927) and Albert Loreen (1928-1956).  During the early years under Pastor Seedhoff First Lutheran added to its property, played an active role in the temperance movement in Rockford, and entered the growing debate over the transition from Swedish to English in church services.

By the 1920’s, declining memberships, controversy over the Grant estate, and the congregation’s dissatisfaction with Pastor Seedhoff’s leadership led to his resignation in 1927.  Albert Loreen began his lengthy term as pastor in 1928 and under his direction First Lutheran completed the transition to the English language, became more directly involved in youth programs, care for the elderly, and hospital work.  In the mid-1950’s First Lutheran joined with other members of the Augustana Synod and entered into discussions with other Lutheran church bodies which culminated in the formation of the Lutheran Church in America in 1962.

Despite pressures to relocate due to population shifts, First Lutheran remains in the center of the old Swedish neighborhood and continues to use the church built in 1884.