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Rock Creek Church has some very early hisotry. It has been in existence almost as long as the wilderness land of that area has been claimed. In 1852, pioneers of Norwegian heritage, first came to the Rock Creek area under the leadership of Rev. C.L. Clausen. He led a scouting party into Iowa and Minnesota out of Wisconsin in search of new lands. This group of hardy explorers were particularly attracted to the lands along the Cedar River in Mitchell County where not a single claim to the land had been taken. Rev. Clausen plotted and named the town of St. Ansgar on this expedition and most of the group stayed there. However, a band of six men, some with families, explored about 10 miles farther south and settled there which is not the Rock Creek area. Some of the same roads used today were original trails pioneered out of the wilderness connecting these early settlements. They came with great hopes for a new life and with three of their most prized possessions: the Bible, Luther's Catechism, and oneof their native Norway books, the Forklaring.
As a true circuit rider, Rev. Clausen traveled from St. Ansgar to many pioneer settlements and farms. This Rock Creek settlement became known as District No. 6. The pioneers first gathered for worship in homes and recordings show that the first baptism was held in 1855, and the first regular church service in 1856.
In 1863, a resolution was passed declaring District No. 6 independent of St. Ansgar and the Rock Creek Evangelical Norwegian Lutheran Church was born. The Rev. Clausen became the church pastor with services held in the area schoolhouses, especially in a little Norwegian religious school house held in a log home near the creek. In 1870, the first "Kirkesanger" (teacher) was hired to teach school duties and religion as well as other duties in the community. Materials were first ordered from Norway, then later prepared and supplied by the church organization.
In 1869, the present site of the church was chosen nearby the already established cemetery. Foundations for the new building were dug that fall, but times were harsh and construction and finances were slow and hard. Big timbers used in the foundation and framework were shipped by railroad to the closest point which was Adams, Minnesota. Teams of oxen were then used to walk the loads back to the building site in Rock Creek. By 1870 the main building at the church was built. These were pioneering days of struggle and although the church building was useable, it was not completely finished until 1875. In the late fall of 1875, the steeple, balcony, altar and pulpit were completed and the church was dedicated on December 12. Four-hundred dollars was raised for the finishing touch, the church bell, which was rung that Christmas, New Years Eve, New Years Day and every Sunday and holiday thereafter for the next 70 years. 140 members made up the first regular congregation.
In as early as 1900, the passing of the wilderness prairie days was swiftly coming to an end. The area of the congregatin spread to five routes. The church was the center of direction for the neighborhood. If you lived north of the church, you lived "up the prairie" and south was directed as "down the prairie." In 1905 a barn was built near the church for those wishing to stable their horses while attending church services or other social functions there.
In 1922, beautiful colored stained glass windows were installed. They provided a tranquil story of Christ in color. The light shining through them cast a tranquil spell and much enhanced the worship services. A hail storm that spring shattered many of the windows. The pieces of stained glass were carefully picked up as much as possible and sent away for repairs. With painstakingly close work, the broken stained glass windows were reconstructed and placed back in the windows.
A gradual change in the use of the English language took place in the years prior to 1920. English hymnals were purchased for the first time in 1918. However, much of the conversation and minutes of the congregational meetings were still recorded in Norwegian, until 1923.
By 1945, it was necessary to construct a church parsonage near the church for the pastor and his family. By 1947, the spacious country parsonage was finished.
In 1952, the church parsonage acquired the land across from the church. Much labor of church members and neighbors went into clearing the brush, building a cement dam and bridge, preparing a softball diamond and park picnic area for many church and neighbor social events.
In 1954, the ground was broken for an additional parish hall, three story Sunday School room addition, and a new kitchen. A large assembly room with its own organ completed this welcome new addition.
When the little church turned over the century and was 100 years old in 1963, it had a congregation membership of 564.
In 1965, mother nature inflicted her own punishment on the little church and surrounding neighborhood farms when a tornado went through badly damaging the steeple and entryway of the church. Congregation members again banded together and made repairs.
In 1983, the church basement was completely renovated by members of the congregation. New paint, woodwork repair, and carpet was installed. Decorative rosemalling on the window cornices was painted by lady members of the church. The designs added color and depicted the beautiful Norwegian artwork common to the community.
In 1987, an elevator, somewhat unusual in a church of that size, was installed to take parishioners from the entryway of the church to the church proper.
In the past twenty-five years, various pastors served this rural congregatinon: John L. Quam until 1964; Donald L. Berg from 1964 to 1973; Paul Metzger from May of 1973 until the later part of 1985; a supply pastor, Perry Brown to April of 1986 and present-day pastor, Roger Hoppenworth. In 1983, Paul G. Birkedal, a member of the Rock Creek congregation, was ordained into the Ministry of the American Lutheran Church.
Rock Creek is well known for its picturesque setting, their annual fall lutefisk supper carries on traditional Norwegian heritage, and the ice cream social held every summer on the parish lawn.
Submitted to IaGenWeb by Larry Shoger, Jan. 2009
Webization by K. Kittleson