Grace Lutheran Church

The history of Grace finds its source in the Scandinavian pioneer residents of Sandstone who came here at the turn of the century. The need for a Lutheran church was soon realized and the first group organized meetings in approximately 1900.

In 1901, Elim Swedish Church was incorporated and was received into the Minnesota Conference of the Augustana Lutheran synod at the 1903 annual convention held in Duluth. It was listed a year later in the church statistical reports with a church property evaluation of $1,000 and a debt of $150. The baptized membership was 75 with 30 pupils in Sunday School with five teachers.

In 1924, the Sandstone quarries were closed down, and it was agreed that Elim should be moved to Gronigen as that was a thriving community with a promising future.

In May 1945, an organization meeting of Grace Church was held and in July, Elim decided they would unite with Grace with trustees signing papers transferring the property to Grace. The first structure was a basement completed in November with the cornerstone set in July 1946. The building was completed for Easter Service on March 25, 1951. A new building addition was completed in 1994 with the dedication held on June 25, 1995.

Emmanuel Lutheran Church

The history of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dell Grove, Minnesota, a member of the Augustana Synod dates back to the month of July 1895. This was less than one year after the September 1, 1894 forest fire that devastated the area. It was during the summer and fall of 1895 the Pastor G. Peterson, who was serving the newly formed congregations of Rush City, Hinckley, and Sturgeon Lake, MN; came voluntarily to Dell Grove community once each month to conduct services for the people of Swedish decent who had settled here.

On January 14, 1896, notice was posted formally, for the purpose of assembling all interested persons to discuss the forming of a organized church. 

On February 25, 1896, The group of the newly formed congregation decided on the name of Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Dell Grove, MN 

1935, at the annual meeting in November it was decided that English would be the official language of the church to welcome in more people, and the name Emmanuel was officially adopted. 

1936, the name officially became Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dell Grove MN 

Currently Dell Grove Emmanuel Lutheran Church is in a parish partnership with nearby Grace Lutheran Church as a committed two point parish. Together in God's mission, each church is uniquely different but committed to working together in proclaiming the Word of God to all they encounter.