Chapter Eleven
Swedish-American Lutheran
Church of Greater Pittsburgh

By James and Jude Wudarczyk

Although very little exists on the Swedish community in Lawrenceville, we know that there were enough of a population to support three churches, and at the turn of the twentieth century the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh issued an eight-page catalog of books and magazines in Swedish that were available at the Lawrenceville branch.

Apparently by the summer of 1872 there were enough Swedish Lutherans in Pittsburgh to warrant religious services. Although the congregation was never officially incorporated, it appears that based on historical records, the Swedish Lutheran Zion was organized. However, being a small congregation, they were not able to afford to construct their own church. Church records show that they were dependent upon the hospitality of the First Lutheran Church for a space in order to hold services. There was also a short period of time when the congregation used a hall on Fifth Avenue as a temporary worship site. Reverend J. W. Kindborg served as pastor of the tiny congregation between 1872 and 1873.

After Kindborg resigned as pastor, the congregation was left without a minister until 1876. During this period, services were periodically conducted by visiting pastors and students. Then in 1876, Reverend G. A. Ekeberg took charge of the church, while at the same time serving as pastor of Immanuel Church in Irwin, Pennsylvania. Church records were not very clear when Ekeberg resigned the pastorate of Swedish Lutheran Zion. However, the archives note that following his departure until 1883, there was almost no activity at the church. In 1883 Pastor Christer Osterbolm arrived and took charge of the struggling church. He remained until 1885.

The next pastor of note was Reverend S.F. Westerdahl, who was credited with merging two small congregations. On August 21, 1886, the Zion Church with 50 communicants and the Gustavus Adolphus Church, which also had 50 communicants, combined for a congregation of 100 communicants. The new church was known as the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Gustavus Adolphus Congregation.

Around 1885 there was a small community of Swedish Lutherans living in the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Because of the lack of adequate public transportation, it was difficult for the Lawrenceville Swedes to travel to downtown Pittsburgh for religious services. Thus, the original Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran congregation organized a Sunday School. Based on church records, on December 19, 1885, ten of the fathers of the Sunday School attendees met in Room 13 of the Hatfield Street Public School in the 17th Ward (today’s 9th Ward) to discuss the need for an Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lawrenceville.

In December 1886 the New York Conference dispatched Pastor Gustaf Nilsenius to Pittsburgh to organize the struggling congregation of Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. According to church records, Nilsenius wasted no time and by June 5, 1887 the cornerstone of the first church was laid. The service was conducted by Pastor T. O. Linell, assisted by Pastors A. Berllfour, Gustaf Nilsenius and student, afterwards pastor, A. J. Rodell.

The work on the new church progressed rapidly and by November 6, 1887, the first Gustavus Adolphus Church edifice was formally dedicated. It was named in honor of the Sweden’s great king-hero, Gustavus Adophus, who was revered as “Defender of the Protestant Faith.” The dedicatory service was conducted by Pastor C. O. Hulgren. He was assisted by Pastors S. F. Westerdahl, Gustaf Nilsenius, L. G. Abrahamson, N. J. Johnson, J. G. Hultkrantz, J. K. Melhorn, E. F. Alfson, and A. J. Rodell. The latter two were listed as divinity students.

A church account showed the edifice as being located at the “corner of Plummer Street and Cotton Alley, near 46th Street, one block below Butler Street. It was built of brick. Its dimensions were 50’ X 23’. The main auditorium had a seating capacity of 400, including the gallery. The spire was 75 feet high. The value of the church property was estimated at $8,000.”

According to a brief church history, Nilsenius was greatly loved by his congregation. They dubbed him “the Grand Old Man.” Although the history did not give specific dates for Nilsenius’ tenure, like most pastors, it appeared that that his pastorate was a relatively short one.

The inability of the small congregation to retain a pastor was evident by the fact that several men served in that position between 1888 and 1900. In September 1888 M. J. Englund took charge of the church, but only remained for a year. On July 1, 1890 Pastor E. F. Alison assumed the role of leader of the congregation, but like his predecessors, his tenure was very short. After a year and a half, Alison was gone and the congregation was left without a pastor until 1894. Finally, on July 1, 1894 Reverend G. K. Stark accepted the pastorate. In spite of the economic turmoil of the 1890’s, Reverend Stark was able to meet mortgage obligations, install a new organ, and “decorate” the main auditorium. After serving the spiritual needs of the congregation for three years, Stark resigned the pastorate.

Once again the Gustavus Adolphus Church was left without a spiritual leader to guide the flock. It was not until July 1, 1900 before a new pastor accepted the call to lead the congregation. A short church history described the pastorate of Reverend Philip Andreen as “a period of blessed activity and progress.” Andreen was credited with reducing the church debt, increasing membership, starting a publication called “Var Kyrka,” purchasing a new parsonage, and securing an altar painting, Graistrom’s “Christ in Gethsemane.” When the church was finally closed, the painting was transferred to Gethsemane Church in Plainfield, New Jersey. Reverend Andreen remained with the congregation until March 26, 1905.

When Pastor Julius Hulteen arrived on July 2, 1905, he was faced with a major change in demographics. The Swedish community was moving to various residential neighborhoods. In order to serve the spiritual needs of the community, Hulteen recognized that it would be necessary to build a new church, one that was more centrally located.

Reverend Julius Hulteen wrote to his congregation, “The Swedish-American Lutheran Church of Greater Pittsburgh worshipped in this little church on Plummer Street for 20 years. The ever growing stream of immigrants has made it necessary to get a larger and better located church.” Apparently using pictures of the old church and projected drawings of a new one, Hulteen continued, “The contrast between these buildings is indicative of the contrast between Pittsburgh of 1888 and of to-day; the Church should grow with the city. The Lutherans from the land of Gustavus Adolphus are working hard to secure a church that will meet their present needs. This church will be on the beautifully and centrally located lot, corner Friendship Avenue and Evaline Street, recently bought. The building will be 54 x 73 feet and have an auditorium seating a little over 500 persons. The basement will have necessary rooms for the Sunday School and other organizations of the congregation. The cost will be about $35,000.00. We are doing our very best to raise this sum but we need the generous support of all who are interested in the uplift of our city. We are here to stay, and we want to be useful citizens of our adopted land. But we need the Gospel, and nowhere can we get it better than in our own church.”

By January 1, 1907 the new pastor paid down the remaining debt of $1,200 on the mortgage and had a surplus in the treasury of $400 as seed money for the building fund. Shortly before the retiring of the mortgage, on December 19, 1906, Hulteen sold old church to an organization known as the Radiant Society for $8,800. Finally on April 28, 1907 the congregation met in the Gustavus Adolphus Church for a farewell service.

Although the congregation liquidated their edifice, they continued to worship in Lawrenceville from May 1, 1907 until December 6, 1908. Services were held in Arsenal Hall on 43rd Street.

On July 13, 1907 the Church Board was authorized to purchase a lot 110 feet by 88 feet on the northwest corner of Friendship Avenue for $10,620. In spite of the financial Panic of 1907-1909, the congregation continued to build the new place of worship. Although the church was not complete, it appeared that on December 13, 1908, the Gustavus Adolphus congregation moved into their new home, and a chapter in the religious life of the Lawrenceville community closed.