Finnish Churches in North America - Massachusetts

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Please send comments, corrections and updates to leif.mether@genealogia.fi.

Allston Brighton - Suomi Synod
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

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Archival Sources:
Finnish-American Historical Archives, Hancock

Ashburnham - Apostolic
Ashburnham Apostolic Lutheran Church
Route 12, Ashburnham
Pastors:
Ralph Niemela
[Source: http://www.apostolic-lutheran.org/churchlocater/roster2.htm / Dec 26, 1999]
[Not sure it is/was a Finnish church]

Cape Ann - Suomi Synod
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

Fitchburg - Apostolic ("Heideman")
Founded in 1900.  The church was not divided and the "Heideman" people was in majority.
Preachers:
John Rasku ("Heideman")
[Source: Saarnivaara 1947, p. 292 & 324]

Fitchburg - Baptists
A Finnish church which later joined with the Swedish church.
[Source: Silfversten 1931, p. 224]

Fitchburg - Congregational
Finnish Evangelical Mission Church (1895-1960)
Elm Street Congregational Church (1960-)
Originally organized in 1893. Founded officially by Andrew Groop, Mathilda Groop, Johan Aho, Ella Hendrickson, Sofia Sivunen, Johan Tiilikkala, Fredriika Tiilikkala and Erika Wirkkala on Sep. 29, 1895. Joined the Finnish Evangelical Mission Church on Jan. 12, 1901. Andrew Groop donated land on Elm Street and the cornerstone was laid on July 12, 1903. The church building was dedicated on Jan. 15, 1905.
Pastors:
Andrew Groop (1895-)
J. Allan Maki (1944-1947)
William A. Sumner (1947-1967)
David E. Wuori (1967-1976)
Russell E. Angell (1976-1977)
Don R. Sherwood (1977-1981)
David E. Wuori (1981-1987)
David L. Forry (1988)
George L. Cory (1988-1991)
Phillip A. Meher (1991-1995)
[Source: Elm Street Congregational Church. The First Hundred Years 1895-1995. Ed. by Helen Syrjanen and Toini Laakso]
Address:
264 Elm Street, Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420
Literature:
Seventy-Fifth Anniversary. 1895-1970. September 26th and 27th, Elm Street Congregational Church, Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Fitchburg - National
The Finn Evangelical Lutheran Society (1893-1953)
Messiah Lutheran Church (1953-)
Formed Dec. 17, 1893. Voted to buy a site for a church and hall on May 31, 1898 jointly with Aamunkoitto Tempereance and the Socialist Saima Societies on Mechanic Street. The building was erected Nov. 18, 1900. Granted membership in the Finnish National Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oct. 1905. The church building burned on Christmas Eve 1961. A new church building was dedicated on Nov. 24, 1963 at Scott and Rindge Roads.
Pastors:
J. Missila (1893-1896)
J. Missila (1900-1905)
Matti Wiskari (1913-1916)
Peter Miettinen (1916-1921)
Matti Anttonen (-1948)
Erkki Penttinen (1948-)
T. A. Esala (1953-1960)
Raymond J. L. Aho (1961-1983)
Craig Patterson (1978-1982) (Assistant-Pastor)
Kenn Cobb (1984-)
Vicars:
Joel Holls (1974-1975)
Craig Patterson (1976-1977)
Joel Hiesterman (1977-1978)
[Source: 100th Anniversary. Messiah Lutheran Church, Fitchburg, Massachusetts. 1893-1993.]

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Fitchburgin Evankelis-Luterilainen seurakunta
The activities started in 1886, but the congregation was officially founded in Sep. 1893. Joined the Finnish National Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1905. Built a church in cooperation with the temperance society and the Saima Society in 1900. The congregation bought the whole building in 1922. 701 members in 1949.
Pastors:
J. Nissilä (1894-1895)
A. Hukkanen (1896)
M. Havukainen (1897)
J. W. Lähde
A. Auer
A. Gronning
J. Nisslä (1900-1906)
A. Könönen (1906-1907)
J. Haakana
M. I. Kuusi (1908)
J. E. Liljeroos (1909-1911)
M. Wiskari (1913-1916)
P. Miettinen (1916-1920)
M. Anttonen (1921-1948)
Erkki Penttinen (1948-1949-)
[Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 350-351]

Fitchburg - Pentecostal
Bethel-seurakunta
Address:
119 Marshall Street, Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420
[Source: http://www.beacom.com/koti/yhteydet.html / Dec 26, 1999]

Fitchburg - Suomi Synod
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

Gardner - Baptists
Svenska-finska Baptisförsamlingen i Gardner
A Swedish Finn church founded Sep 17, 1908. The work among the Swedish Finns had started at least in 1903. A meeting room was built in 1904 in the home of A. Backman and used by the church. A church was built in 1909. A total of 40 members in 1930.
Pastors:
Isaac Roy (1908-1912)
Isaac Berg (1913-1918)
Anton A. Anderson
E. H. Hjort
J. A. Wiklund
Erik Frykenberg
A. Backman
Gustav E. Sand
Isaac Roy (1926-)
[Source: Silfversten 1931, p. 251-253 & 289]

Gardner - (National)
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Missouri Synod founded an independent congregation in 1939. The congregation owns a church and a parsonage. The congregation didn't have a pastor and an agreement with the Missouri Synod brought the National Church pastor Wm. Sippola to the congregation. 26 members in 1949.
Pastors:
Wm. Sippola (1947-1949)
R. W. Heikkinen
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 351]

Gardner - (Suomi Synod)
Lutherska Immanuelförsamlingen i Gardner (1929-)
Finsk-svenska evangeliska lutherska församlingen (1894-1929)
A Swedish Finn church founded Dec 30, 1894. Joined the Suomi Synod Feb 5, 1899, but left the synod, and joined the Augustana Synod in 1906. A church building was erected in 1902 near Parker Street. A total of 543 members in 1930.
Pastors:
W. Durchman (-1896)
Albin Hukkanen (1896-1898)
M. Havokainen (1899)
G. A. Ekman (1899)
C. A. Larson (1899-1901)
C. J. Beckman (1901-1905)
N. J. Lundahl (1905-1906)
C. A. Larson (1906-1908)
C. G. Danielson (1908-1909)
S. P. Holmberg (1909-1911)
C. G. Danielson (1911-1912)
Johannes Nyström (1912)
John Gullans (1912-1913)
Johannes Nyström (1913-1918)
R. Byrenius (1918-1919)
G. Oberg (1919-1922)
F. E. W. Kastman (1922-1927)
Walter Lindberg (1927-1930)
Otto Bergquist (1930-)
[Source: Silfversten 1931, p. 248-251 & 288]

Literature:
Johannes Nyström: [publication at the 20th anniversary]

Gardner - Suomi Synod
Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

Gloucester - Apostolic
A church was built at Norseman Avenue in Lanesville already in 1891 for the Evangelic-Lutheran congregation, the Apostolic congregation, and Wäinölä Temperance Society.
The Apostolic congregation was still allowed to use the church building at least during the first part of 1930's. The congregation apparently ceased during the 1920's and 1930's.
[Source: Research by Leif Mether and Alan Ruffman, August 2003]

Hyannis - Apostolic ("Heideman")
[Source: Saarnivaara 1947, p. 324]

Lanesville/Gloucester - Suomi Synod
Pyhän Paavalin suomalainen evankelis-luterilainen seurakunta = St. Paul's Finnish Evangelic-Lutheran Church (1903-1905)
Lanesvillen Pyhän Paavalin suomalainen evankelis-luterilainen seurakunta = St. Paul's Finnish Evangelic-Lutheran Church of Lanesville (1905-1964)
St. Paul Lutheran Church (1964-)
Founded in 1893. A church was built at Norseman Avenue already in 1901 for the Evangelic-Lutheran congregation, the Apostolic congregation, and Wäinölä Temperance Society. In 1905 the church split into Lanesvillen Pyhän Paavalin suomalainen evankelis-luterilainen seurakunta and Rockportin ja Pigeon Coven Pyhän Paavalin suomalainen evankelis-luterilainen seurakunta. A new church building was bought in 1940 (dedicated at Pentecost 1941), located at 1123 Washington Avenue. In 1964 the congregation merged with St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Rockport to form St. Pauls Lutheran Church.
The Apostolic congregation was still allowed to use the church building during the first part of 1930's. Wäinölä Temperance Sociaty had built their own hall already about 1905.
[Source: Research by Leif Mether and Alan Ruffman, August 2003]

Maynard - Apostolic ("Lutheran")
Founded in 1945.
[Source: Saarnivaara 1947, p. 210 & 324]

Maynard - National
A Finnish congregation
Founded in 1898. In 1908 there was a vote about joining Suomi Synod and the chairman's vote decided in favour of joining Suomi Synod. They who were against a joining continued as an independent congregation which joined the Finnish National Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1909. The Suomi Synod part kept the property. A church building is planned. 30 members in 1949.
Pastors:
Wm. Sippola (1946-)
R. W. Heikkinen (1949-)
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 351]

Maynard - Suomi Synod
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

Norwood - Suomi Synod

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Archival Sources:
Finnish-American Historical Archives, Hancock

Peabody - Suomi Synod
St. John's Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

Pigeon Cove - National
A Finnish congregation
Joined the Finnish National Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1924. The church building was sold in 1948 and the money was donated to the building fund of the congregation in Maynard and to the Finnish National Evangelical Lutheran Church. 23 members in 1949.
Pastors:
G. A. Aho
M. Anttonen
Wm. Sippola
R. W. Heikkinen (-1949-)
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 351]

Quincy - Baptists
[Source: Rautanen 1911, p. 320]

Quincy - National
A Finnish congregation
Founded as an independent congregation Apr. 30, 1941 when several families in 1940 left the Suomi Synod congregation. Joined the Finnish National Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1942. 33 members in 1949.
Pastors:
M. Anttonen
Wm. Sippola
R. W. Heikkinen (-1949-)
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 351]

Quincy - Suomi Synod
Trinity Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

Rockport/Pigeon Cove - Suomi Synod
Rockportin ja Pigeon Coven Pyhän Paavalin suomalainen evankelis-luterilainen seurakunta = St. Paul's Finnish Evangelic-Lutheran Church of Rockport and Pigeon Cove (1905-1963)
St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Rockport and Pigeon Cove (1963-1964)
Formed by the split in 1905 of Pyhän Paavalin suomalainen evankelis-luterilainen seurakunta (St. Paul's Finnish Evangelic-Lutheran Church) at Norsman Avenue in Lanesville. A church building was bought or built at 20 Forest Street in Rockport. The name was shortened to St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Rockport and Pigeon Cove in 1963 (uncertain of the Finnish name was still in use at that time). Merged in 1964 with Lanesvillen Pyhän Paavalin suomalainen evankelis-luterilainen seurakunta (St. Paul's Finnish Evangelic-Lutheran Church of Lanesville) with the name St. Pauls Lutheran Church. The church building at Forest Street was sold after the merger.
[Source: Research by Leif Mether and Alan Ruffman, August 2003]

South Royalston - National
A Finnish congregation
Worcester County
Founded in 1921 and joined the Finnish National Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1922. Discontinued.
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 352]

West Barnstable - Apostolic ("Heideman")
Preachers:
John Rasku
[Source: Saarnivaara 1947, p. 210 & 292]

West Barnstable - Suomi Synod
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

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Archival Sources:
Finnish-American Historical Archives, Hancock

West Minot - Suomi Synod

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Archival Sources:
Finnish-American Historical Archives, Hancock

Worcester - Apostolic ("Heideman")
Founded in 1907. The church was not divided and the "Heideman" people were in majority.
Preachers:
John Blomberg (1904-1920)
John Rasku (1905-)
[Source: Saarnivaara 1947, p. 290, 292 & 324]

Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church
Founded in 1903. A church building was erected in 1917, which was sold in the early 1980s.
[Source: Strength in Diversity: Worcester's Finnish Community (1994), p. 65]
[Uncertain if Heideman or something else]

Worcester - Baptists
Founded in 1900.
[Source: Rautanen 1911, p. 319]

Bethel Baptist Church (1933-1967)
Swedish-Finnish Baptist Church (1900-1933)
Organized on Jun 20, 1900 with 23 members. A church building was bought in 1914. Sold in 1967 and the congregation joined the Belmont Street Baptist Church.
[Source: Strength in Diversity: Worcester's Finnish Community (1994), p. 65]

Svensk-finska Baptistförsamlingen i Worcester
Founded Jun 20, 1900. An apartment was rented at 274 Main Street, but was destroyed by fire in 1902, and a new apartment was rented at 207 Main Street. A church was taken into use in 1914 at the corner of Belmont Street and Edward Street. A total of 77 members in 1930.
Pastors:
J. A. Wiklund (1900-1901)
K. A. Arry (1901-1903)
Matts Esselström (1903-1910)
J. A. Kallman (1910-1913)
A. Rausk (1913-1919)
Isak Berg (1919-1924)
Emil Nylund (1924-1927)
Karl A. Pearson (1927-)
[Source: Silfversten 1931, p. 240-243 & 289]

Worcester
Evangelical Lutheran Bethany Church (1928-1948)
The Swedish-Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church (1900-1928)
Organized on Aug 26, 1900 with meetings at 207 Main Street. Bought a corner lot located at Carbon and Belmont streets on Mar 22, 1904 and a church building was opened in Dec 1906. Joined in 1948 with First Lutheran and Calvary Lutheran to become Trinity Lutheran Church.
[Source: Strength in Diversity: Worcester's Finnish Community (1994), p. 63]

Lutherska Bethaniaförsamlingen i Worcester (1929-)
Svensk-finska lutherska församlingen (1900-1929)
Founded Aug 28, 1900 and joined the Augustana Synod next year. The meetings were held at 207 Main Street. In 1906 the first floor of a church was built. A total of 280 members in 1930.
Pastors:
C. A. Larson (1900-)
John Gullans (1902-1907)
Johannes Nyström (1907-)
Carl J. Silfversten (1909-1910)
John Gullans (abt. 5 years)
Johannes Nyström
Emil Johnson
A. J. Lawson (-1931-)
Deputies:
C. A. Larson
H. Kullander
Robert Swanson
Harry Kuniholm
Axel Holm
Claus Danielson
F. W. Lindström
[Source: Silfversten 1931, p. 243-246 & 288]

Worcester - Congregational
The Finnish Congregational Church
Founded in 1900. Closed down in c. 1981?
Bought a hall in 1914 at 10 Linwood Street, which was demolished in 1954.
Pastors:
William Hokkanen
Niilo Tuomenoksa
Eino Hämäläinen
[Source: Strength in Diversity: Worcester's Finnish Community (1994), p. 62]

Literature:
Muistokirja 30-vuotisesta lähetystyöstä

Worcester
Bethesda Congregational Church
A Swede Finn mission church on Belmont Hill at the corner of Stanton and Iver streets between 1917 and about 1950, when the property was sold.
[Source: Strength in Diversity: Worcester's Finnish Community (1994), p. 66]

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Bethesda Missionsförsamling i Worcester
The congregation used the American Union Church and got a building of their own in 1917 at Belmont Hill.
Pastors:
M. Josefson
P. A. Mickels
Alex Hällis
Victor Öblom
O. G. Norseen
Herman Grönlund (1909-1911)
Victor Öblom
N. O. Lind
Edwards (-1926)
K. A. Gabrielson (1926-)
O. P. Peterson (1930-)
[Source: Silfversten 1931, p. 246-247]

Worcester - Suomi Synod
Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church (1906-1958)
Faith Lutheran Church (1958-1978)
Organized in 1894 (first meeting Jan 7, by-laws approved Jan 28). A church of their own was completed in 1907 at 57 Laurel Street. The congregation was disbanded Dec 24, 1978.
Pastors:
(18 ministers)
Viljo Heiman (1933-1977)
[Source: Strength in Diversity: Worcester's Finnish Community (1994), p. 66-69]