Prior to the organization of this congregation in 1873, a group of Swedish immigrants held meetings in the Y.M.C.A., in a Baptist church (probably First Baptist), and in the home of a member, O.S. Lindberg, a carpenter. With the arrival of the Reverend John Ongman, the congregation was established on May 18, 1873. Meeting were held in the "American Baptist Church" (i.e. First Baptist), and later in a third-floor hall in a building at 7th and Wacouta Streets.