Wooden Shoes – 150th Anniversary of Erland Carlsson’s Ministry

This is a wooden shoe that was marked by Erland Carlsson.

Rev. Erland Carlsson was sent by the Swedish State Lutheran Church to “minister to the Swedes in the wilderness and organize congregations as needed.” Rev. Carlsson was, at that time, in the Chicago area and the “wilderness” was anything west of Chicago.

Rev. Carlsson traveled to Minnesota Territory and organized First Lutheran Church in the Swede Hollow community of St. Paul on May 6, 1854. He then traveled to the Chisago Lake area and organized Chisago Lakes Lutheran Church in Center City on May 12, 1854.

He then walked with Daniel Nilsson to organize the Marine Country Church in Scandia (now called Elim Lutheran Church) on May 19, 1854.

Erland Carlsson was a peasant child who was born in 1822 and raised in Suletorp farm village, Älghult parish, Uppvidinge Municipality, Kronoberg County, Småland province, Sweden. Although he had minimal elementary education, he was able to be admitted to Lund University School of Theology and graduated with honors in 1848. He was ordained in 1849.

These wooden shoes were in honor of the 150th anniversary of his travels to Minnesota and presented to Gammelgarden by the choir from his hometown congregation.

Categories: All, Clothing - Accessories, Commemorative Gift, Wood Carving Tags: commemorative gift, gift, ministry, shoes, wooden shoes