Country church turns 140 years young

Back when buffalo were still roaming the plains, before South Dakota was even a state, a group of Swedish immigrants settled in rural Brandon and established Swedona Covenant Church. 

The original sod church was built in 1877. This Sunday Swedona celebrates its 140th anniversary.

Growing up in the country church, Emily Wehde is used to being one of the youngest people in the room. The 24-year-old is a fifth-generation church member and one of nine descendants of charter Swedona members who still attend the church. Those descendants also include her parents, Jim and Deb, her grandparents, James and Vi, and her great-aunt Harriet. 

“You have the family ties, and there’s something nice about going to a church where people are so welcoming. They know you and really care if you’re there,” Wehde said. “Every Sunday we have greeting time, and everyone really does get out of their pew and say hi to everyone. That’s unique.”

Wehde was baptized and confirmed at Swedona. She’s watched her mom play the church organ every Sunday and her sister get married there. Squeezing more than 100 wedding guests into the small church was “pretty cramped,” she said with a laugh.  

“Because it’s a smaller church, it’s a different atmosphere,” Wehde said. “You interact with people your parents’ age, your grandparents’ age.”

That across-the-generations interaction has helped shape her into the woman she is today, too. Part of her job as program coordinator for the Salvation Army in Sioux Falls is organizing programs for seniors. She said she’s always found it easy to talk to older generations.

“They have a lot of good stories to tell,” Wehde said. 

Stories and memories will be part of Swedona Covenant Church’s anniversary celebration Sunday. Following a 10:30 a.m. worship service, led by Swedona pastor Rev. Mick Murphy, and featuring Evangelical Covenant Church guest speaker, Rev. Donn Engebretson, members and guests will enjoy a catered meal and fellowship. At the 2 p.m. anniversary service, they’ll hear from Pastor Dennis Webber, who served as a student pastor at Swedona in the 1980s. 

Supporting a small rural can be a challenge, and student pastors from Sioux Falls’ seminary have helped the church survive over the years. Last year Swedona welcomed its full-time pastor, Rev. Mick Murphy. 

“It’s the church you don’t know you’re looking for until you’ve found it,” Rev. Murphy said.

In his 37 years as a pastor, Rev. Murphy has headed 12 congregations. 

“I’m really proud of this little church. Every Sunday is just a delight,” he said. “It’s by far my favorite.”

Wehde is co-chair of the anniversary committee. She’s also been involved with Swedona’s annual harvest festival and ice cream social. 

Congregation members are hoping for a big crowd Sunday and happy for the new members, which include a 5-year-old and a baby.  

“I love the history of the church,” Wehde said. “We’re still here and still going forward.”

The original sod church was built in 1877 with 36 members and led by Pastor John E. Wretlof. The present-day church was built in 1913. It included a bell tower, and 82 years later, Swedona got its first bell. In 2009 the Minnehaha Historical Society erected a historical marker at the church, located at 25843 479th St., rural Brandon.