Historic Sites of Manitoba: Frelsis (Liberty) Lutheran Church at Grund (RM of Argyle)

The oldest standing Icelandic Lutheran Church in Canada, this building in the Rural Municipality of Argyle was erected in 1889 by volunteers under the direction of carpenters Byring Hallgrimsson and Arni Sveinson. Many of the early congregation members had first settled at New Iceland (Gimli) in the late 1870s before homesteading in this municipality in the 1880s. In 1964, Frelsis Congregation joined Baldur Immanuel Lutheran Church. Nearby is the Grund Cemetery.

Frelsis Lutheran Church (October 2011) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Frelsis Lutheran Church (December 2018) Source: George Penner Interior of Frelsis Lutheran Church (October 2011) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.46660, W99.24405 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Grund Lutheran Cemetery (RM of Argyle)

An Introduction to Manitoba Church Architecture by Doug Parsonage

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Provincially Designated Historic Sites

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Bru Frikirkju Lutheran Church (RM of Lorne)

Sources:

Frelsis (Liberty) Lutheran Church at Grund, Manitoba Historic Resources Branch.

We thank Ed Grassick and George Penner for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 12 July 2022

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