As the doors of Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church closed, this parish was blessed with their decision to choose St Alban’s as their new home. Worship at St. Alban’s includes both Lutheran and Anglican hymns, prayers, and other resources, reflecting the shared ministry. 

THE STORY OF BETHESDA EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

 Great is Thy Faithfulness

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In 1893 a small group of Scandinavian Lutherans held their first service in a Lakeside School house. These people had been attracted to Rat Portage (later Kenora), by the lumber, mining and railroading industries. Student, Mr. Mattson and Rev. S. Udden, then resident pastor of Winnipeg, occasionally held services during the first year.

In the summer of 1894, Mr. N. P. Sjostrom, a student of the Theological Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois, conducted services in the school house and ministered to this small group of iinterested people. At a meeting held on August 16th 1894, and presided over by Rev. Udden, the Swedish Bethesda Lutheran congregation at Rat Portage was organized. The congregation adopted the constitution of the Augustana Synod of North America. 

Through the generosity of the Western Lumber Company, one of the seven lumber companies in the district at that time; the present site, a lot 150 feet by 50 feet, was purchased for one dollar.
The corner-stone of the church was laid on November 4th, 1894 and although the building was a mere framework, the first service which was also the first “Julotta”, was held on Christmas morning owing to the kindness of Rev. Page, the Anglican minister. On October 6th, 1895, Rev. Udden conducted the first service in the completed church. This church building, now Fragile Glass, is one if not the oldest church building still in use in Kenora. 

The first ordained, residing pastor to serve the congregation was Rev. A. C. Helander who came in 1895 -1897. During his years of service, the first school room was built. He was followed by Rev. A. J. Rayden, 1897, then Rev. G. S. Larson who came in 1898- 1900 and Rev. B. O. Berg from 1901-1902.  When Rev. Eric Rehner, 1903, was pastor, the old parsonage on Third avenue was purchased. Rev. A. G. Olson, 1903-1909 and Rev. Olander, 1910-1911, worked in the field until Rev. J. O. Lindquist accepted a call in 1911 and stayed until 1917.
Rev. Lindquist proved to be an energetic worker and during his time, services and Sunday School were started in the Norman Chapel. New pews were installed in the Swedish Bethesda church and a new furnace in the parsonage. 

The bell now used to call people to worship was placed in the tower during the time that Mr. Wrick was student pastor. Rev. Lindberg (1918-1919) and Dr. C. Bloomgren ministered to the congregation until 1921 when Rev. Pontus Peterson (1921-1928) served faithfully for eight years. During Rev. E. Olson’s (1929) stay, a thousand dollars was raised to pay off church debts.

The old parsonage was sold and a new one built on the church premises during the year that Rev. J. Bergquist was pastor (1929-1930). 

Rev. H. Anderson (1930-1936) accepted a call to the Kenora congregation during which time the congregation shifted from Swedish to the English language. The name “Swedish Bethesda Lutheran Church” was changed to “Bethesda Lutheran Church.” Stained glass windows and new electric fixtures were installed. 

Many students have helped the church, Dr. O. A. Windield, one of these, not only served one summer as a theological student but also in 1937 relinquished his vacation in order to fill the role of the pastor.

Rev. Theodore Larson (1938-1949), was instrumental in organizing a congregation at Laclu (Bethlehem) and in Norman, (Bethany, dedicated December 22, 1948) as well as ministering to Bethesda. Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norman was organized as a daughter of Bethesda on December 5, 1954. Rev. Floyd Johnson, (1949-1951) and Rev. Hugo Anderson (1951-1955) served all three parishes during their time. Bethlehem (Laclu) voted to dissolve as of December 31, 1961 and the member transferred to Bethany (Norman) while Rev. Richard Mattson was Pastor.

On June 9, 1963 Rev. Floyd E. Johnson (1956-1965) laid the cornerstone for the new church building for the congregation of Bethesda and Bethany whose members had merged with Bethesda April 1965. On the morning of Sunday, December 22, 1963 about 400 people attended the first service in the newly constructed building adjacent to King George School. 
During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, Bethesda undertook an ambitious program of social ministry. Rev. O. Jack Larson (1966-1973) was joined by Rev. John Fullmer (1967- 1976) and Rev. Leon Linquist (1969-1976) for a “team ministry”. Pastor John Fullmer’s call was to ministry solely to Indigenous people in the Kenora area. The position of Community worker was filled by Ruth Blaser, from 1972-1974. The first day care center in Kenora was established at the Bethesda Lutheran Church in 1970. A youth hostel opened for those travelling through Kenora, mainly for overnight accommodations and Bethesda’s social hall was used for many POW WOW’s during this time as well. Other memories from the 70’s, from Earl Anderson’s history of Bethesda: “We had good music, good liturgy and a great choir under Roger Swanson.”  Rev. Robert L.O. Ek (1977-1984), Dr. Treusch (1984-1985), Rev. Ronald P. Grout (1985 –1997), Rev. Richard Shore (1998 – 2004) and Pastor Bill Cowen (2004- 2007) lead Bethesda members in worship, prayer and community outreach for many years. Reverend Cathy Giroux’s (Anglican Church of Canada), served as interim pastor from January 1, 2008 until December 31, 2011. 

Due to declining membership and financial struggles, Bethesda Lutheran’s church building was sold on November 1, 2012. Bishop Elaine Saurer led a decommissioning service on October 28, 2012 where Bethesda members were joined by community friends, members from St. Alban’s Cathedral and many pastors from the Manitoba Northwestern Ontario Synod.  A potluck was held for the last time in the social hall where fellowship and food were shared.

Even though the church building was sold, Bethesda continued as a congregation and rented 3 rooms from the new owners. Adolf Baier was instrumental in changing the chapel to make a larger worship space that held up to 50 congregants.  One room served as a mini-social hall and another room was the office.  Bethesda members appreciated the little chapel where interim pastors would lead our faithful followers. Pastor Daren Gallivan was installed as full-time pastor in August 2014 and remained until September 2018. 

After many meetings and honest discussions, the decision was made for Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran to remain open and enter into a Shared ministry with St. Alban’s Cathedral Church (Anglican Church of Canada). Bishop Jason Zinko led an emotional, “leave-taking service” on May 12, 2019. Congregational members shared stories and memories of their many years as Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenora.  The old Swedish bible was donated to the Lake of the Woods Museum and a painting of “Jesus in the Temple” went to Lakeside Baptist church. (Their pastor painted it and gave it to Bethesda in 1944.) Three of the stained-glass windows from the original Swedish Bethesda Lutheran church were installed in the choir room at St. Alban’s Cathedral. The alter, communion rail, baptismal font, lectern and cross found a new home in a chapel at Laclu Landing which will be used for weddings, funerals and other events. 

A celebration service was held on May 19, 2019 at St. Alban’s Cathedral church where a Covenant was signed between the congregants of St. Alban’s Cathedral and Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church. 

The people who started Bethesda had a vision in the preached word, the liturgy and the fellowship of the faithful. Over 127 years later, the congregation continues to live and serve in the light of that vision.

Great is Thy Faithfulness!