Peace Lutheran Parish

Phone: Church 785-374-4267

First we were a church -

Before the organization of a congregation, Reverend Olaus Chelleen, who had accepted a call to the Swedesberg Congregation in 1872, visited the Swedish communities in the outlaying districts that included Beaver Township.   On November 16, 1873 a group of Swedish immigrants that came to Republic County Kansas by way of Rockport Illinois met 2 miles north of the current church location at the Frank Forsberg farm. They adopted the Constitution and regulations of the Augustana Synod. Those present showed their willingness to become members of the congregation by signing their names to the charter membership list. The worshiped together in various homes in the community.

In 1877 Rev. Ohslund was called to become the pastor of the Ada and the Amana (Scandia) congregations.  He was the former pastor in Bucklin Missouri. That same year Ada experienced a Missouri Migration with many Swedish Lutherans leaving their homes is Bucklin to settle in Beaver Township.

Then we built a church building -

At the yearly meeting in 1878 it was decided to build a parsonage and also purchase 20 acres of land from P. A. Wittgren for $3.50 an acre.  He donated 20 acres of land with the agreement that the members would haul rock and sand for his house.  The congregation donated the rock for the building of the 30 by 22 foot parsonage and hired August Swenson to lay the walls for $75.00.  The congregation furnished a helper.

In 1882 the contract to build the present church building was let.  Each member was assessed to furnish a portion of the rock from a nearby quarry.  The rock were put in place by scaffolds and handed from one man to the other until the walls were complete.

In the fall of 1884 the church building was dedicated as a temple of God by Pastor J. E. Swanbom. The inside of the church was completed.  They laid planks on stones for seats.  The young congregation borrowed the organ that belonged to the pastor’s family.  It was carried to the church from the parsonage each Sunday morning and every occasion of use. In 1888 the bell tower was built at a cost of $700.00.

In 1901 the sanctuary was remodeled.  Along with the addition of the new tin ceiling and the moving of the pulpit, the painting “Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane” by Dr. Berger Sandzen was placed above the alter.  In 1933 the basement was built. 670 days of labor were donated.  The dirt was removed by use of horses and slips. Many days 55 men worked at one time. The current parsonage was built in 1910.

A Joyful noise unto the Lord

The Choir has been a constant part of Ada’s worship.  Since the 1880 there has been a choir of various dimensions. Some years there has been a children choir to compliment the adult choir, and over the years there have been Men’s quartets and combinations of women’s singing groups.

Perhaps the most momentous event for the choir was in 1884.  Under the direction of C. H Johnson the choir sang at a Scandia Christmas program.  A few days later they sang at Lake Sibley.  They travel in two lumber wagons. Since there was no river bridge, they went to the north edge of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Bridge near Oneonta, walked across the bridge, got into two other lumber wagons and were taken to their destination.  On account of a blizzard, which raged for three days, they were an hour late in getting back to the bridge the next morning.  Tracks on the other side revealed their driver had left, thinking the storm had prevented their coming. They were stranded eleven and one-half miles from home in a blizzard.  Without overshoes, they started walking.  Most of them stopped at homes along the way and did not reach their own homes for a week because of the deep drifts.

In His Service