First Swedish Baptist

Swedish immigrants to the region began organizing Baptist churches as early as 1853 (in Houston County), 1855 (in Scandia), and 1856 (in Chisago Lakes). In Minneapolis, the early Swedish Baptists established themselves by 1866 but moved several times in their early years. By 1866, a group of Swedes was worshipping at First Baptist Church in Minneapolis at Fifth and Hennepin in Minneapolis. They organized a Bible studies meeting held in the home of F. W. Malmson, located on 2nd Street between 2nd and 3rd Ave. South, and In prayer meetings held in the homes of J. L. Johnson and Peter Nelson, also on 2nd Street. Some services were held in the hall at Washington Ave. and 13th Ave. South.  Later meetings were held in the home of E. Hernlund on Hennepin Island and in Payne's Hall in the National Exchange Building at Nicollet and 2nd St.  

During this period, historian G. Arvid Hagstrom reports, baptisms were held in the Mississippi River, "on Hennepin Island near the home of Eric Hernlund." Hagstrom explains, "It was not uncommon that these took place in the wintertime when the ice, two feet thick, must be cut to afford an entrance into the baptismal waters. But more often it occurred in the summertime. And it was, indeed, a most impressive scene to witness--the joyful followers of the Lord 'gathered at the river' singing 'O, happy day, that fixed by choice,' and then the long procession of white-robed candidates wending their way out into the water, while the congregation upon the banks sang praises for this wonderful salvation; and then the consecrated preacher baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Wonderful sight! Once seen can never be forgotten. And, oh, how often God granted them to his people" (History of First Swedish Baptist Church, 19). 

The congregation erected a church, designed by J. L. Johnson, in 1873-74, at the corner of 12th Avenue South and 6th Street. The lot and building cost about $5,000. In the early 1880s, a stone foundation was added and the building was enlarged with an addition that made the building plan cruciform in shape. It was destroyed by fire in 1885, at which time the congregation held meetings in Harrison Hall at the corner of Washington and Nicollet Ave. They purchased the Second Congregational Church building at 13th Ave. and 8th Street. This church was damaged by fire in 1893, during repairs the congregation met in the Norwegian-Danish Baptist Church. In 1904 the building was partially destroyed by a cyclone. During repairs to the upper church, the congregation was able to meet in the basement lecture room. The congregation was still using this building in 1936. Services were held in Swedish until 1919 when two services a month and a prayer meeting every Friday were in English. By 1930 Swedish language services were discontinued. In 1946 the congregation changed its name to Bethlehem Baptist Church, and in 1991 the old building was razed and a new one erected. 

First Swedish Baptist founded several daughter congregations, including Bethel Mission; Elim Church, founded as a mission in Northeast Minneapolis, an area becoming a "Scandinavian center" according to author G. Arvid Hagstrom (45); and the Danish-Norwegian Baptist church (later Powerderhorn Park Baptist Church).