Jenny Lind Chapel
 
Andover, Illinois

Landmark of Pioneer Faith

Welcome
History
Celebration
Brochure
Videos
Events
Weddings
Museum
Map
Board
Gifts
Capital Campaign
 

Welcome

Swedish Högmässa Service
Sunday, September 26, 4:00 pm
At this service the liturgy and music are in Swedish and the sermon is in English.  Bertil Sandin is the liturgist and the pastor is Rev. Randy Willers, Salem, Moline.

Andover Christmas Walk
Saturday, December 4, 5:00-8:00 pm
The walk is at several locations.  It includes choral and instrumental music at Jenny Lind Chapel from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

Joy of Christmas with Augustana College
Wednesday, December 8, 7:30 pm
This event starts at Augustana Church and ends at Jenny Lind Chapel.

159th Annual Julotta - early Christmas morning service
Saturday, December 25, 6:30 am
At this service the choir anthem is in Swedish and the sermon is in English.

The Jenny Lind Chapel is a memorial to Swedish settlers who came to America in 1849 to found a branch of the Swedish Lutheran Church under the leadership of Pastor Lars Paul Esbjörn.  He later became the first president of Augustana College.

It was a struggle for these pioneers to fund and build this chapel.  The congregation grew and in 1870 they built a new church in Andover.  The chapel was given its name in 1948 as it was presented to the Augustana Synod.

The Jenny Lind Chapel became the mother church for hundreds of other churches of the Augustana Lutheran Church in America.  This church body merged into the Lutheran Church in America in 1962 and is now a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  The Chapel is owned by the Northern Illinois Synod (ELCA).

The Chapel is on the National Register of Historic Places.  It houses a museum that offers exhibits of the early immigrant experience as well as audio and video presentations.  The cemetery adjacent to the Chapel is the resting place of the faithful including Jonas Swensson, the second president of the Augustana Synod. During the year the Chapel is visited not only by Swedes but also by people of many other nationalities interested in the immigration experience.

The Chapel hosts special events throughout the year including the annual Founders Day service in April, Sunday evening vespers at 7:00 pm during June, July and August, the Swedish Högmässa service in September, and the "Joy of Christmas" service.  Call Augustana Lutheran Church at 309-521-8127 for current schedule information.

To insure the continuation of the Chapel as an expression of the pioneer heritage of the Lutheran Church in the U.S., prayerfully consider a donation or estate gift to the Chapel. Please send your check to Jenny Lind Chapel, Augustana Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 157, Andover, IL 61233.  Make it payable to "Jenny Lind Chapel".

All of these Web pages are available as PDF files that exclude the menu:

 Welcome    History    Celebration    Brochure    Videos    Events 
Weddings    Museum    Map    Board    Gifts    Capital Campaign

Photos courtesy of Austin Oaks Portrait Studio in Andover.  Click on them to view a larger image.

jennylindchapel.org

Webmaster:  David Renneke

Last update:  August 29, 2010