The Scandinavian Parish

From the 1840’s The Pine Lake Scandinavian Parish to today’s St. Anskar’s Episcopal Church summary 

Early 1840’s. Unonius held religious devotions at his house for family and neighbors, Swedes and Norwegians. A priest was needed, James Lloyd Breck was available and after unsuccessful use of a Swedish Lutheran priest the “congregation” asked Unonius to study at Nashotah House to become a priest.  

In 1844 Unonius agreed and became the first graduate of Nashotah House in 1845. 

In Unonius mind the Episcopal Church was similar to the Swedish church. The Pine Lake Scandinavian Parish was established and Unonius became the first pastor there and in addition to St. Olaf’s in Ashippun. A church building was built (1847) at the cemetery. 

As more Scandinavians immigrated, many wanted the teachings of the Lutheran church. In 1847 Norwegian Lutherans split off from Scandinavian Parish and established St. John’s.  (Lutheran)  

In 1853 Gustaf Unonius came back to preach at St. Olaf’s, at that time there were two parts of the congregations using the same church building. No agreement could be made to unify the congregation, so the Episcopal part moved to St. Paul’s. Unonius left the area for the second time. 

Years after the division the Scandinavian Parish came into hardship and the church building at the cemetery was sold and moved. Services was then held in a schoolhouse in Nashotah.  

In 1864 The Cemetery and Church was transferred to the Episcopal church in the diocese of Milwaukee. By initiative of John Langley Green Fryer (Sunday School Teacher), a new church building was built and the name of the parish was changed to the Holy Innocents Church. The church was led by Nashotah House students and faculty. 

Through the years many improvements (hundred years of improvements) were made to the church. (new hard wood floors, stained glass windows, new furnace, etc) However, in 1936 there was a fire resulting in major damage. The church was restored.  

In 1968 the chapel was deemed too small for the congregation and the church building was sold. The building was remodeled to living quarters and an antique shop. However, in December 1969 the decision was made to tear it down to make room for widening of Highway 16 

From the early 1950’s Holy Innocents and Grace churches were served by the same priest and the two mission congregations in 1968 built the present church building together. Both churches names were maintained naming the new church Grace-Holy Innocents. 

In 1975 the congregation grew to the status of “Parish in Union with the Episcopal Dioses of Milwaukee”, and the decision was made to change the name to St. Anskar’s, after the patron Saint of the Scandinavians, St. Anskar.