Vang Lutheran Church

By Madeline Neprud Anderson

The Vang Lutheran Church, organized and built in 1898, holds a special place in my family history. My great great grandfather, Tosten Eriksen Vangen, donated part of his farm for the church and the cemetery that adjoins it. The church is a beautiful structure that is situated on the ridge between Coon Valley and Westby on part of section 27 in the town of Coon. It can be seen from Highway 14, nestled amongst pine trees, some of which were planted and cared for by Tosten Vangen himself. 

The Tosten Eriksen Vangen family belonged to the Upper Coon Valley Lutheran Church for many years. Their children were baptized and confirmed at this church and several were married here. Eventually, most of the Vangen family became members of the Vang Lutheran Church.

Vang Lutheran Church

Vernon County land records indicate that on May 3, 1898, Tosten Eriksen and his wife Anne, deeded part of their farm land, "for the purpose that it shall be used partly for the cemetery for said congregation and partly for a church which shall forever be a Lutheran Church and be in connection with Synods of the Norwegian Evangelical Church in America or the Norwegian Synode." In November 1936, their son, Albert Vangen, deeded more land for church use. 

The following is taken in part from "The Golden Anniversary of the Vang Evangelical Lutheran Church, town of Coon, Vernon County, Wisconsin, 1898-1948", a pamphlet published for the 50th Anniversary festival services that were held at the Vang Church on Nov. 14, 1948.

"Vangs Norsk Evangelisk-Luthersk Menighet (Vang Norwegian Lutheran Congregation), town of Coon, Vernon County, was organized at the home of Marcus Gulbrandsen at a meeting that began at 7 p.m. on Wed., March 30, 1898. 

The following resolutions were adopted at this first meeting: "Our congregation shall adhere to a constitution which confesses the same faith and teaching and also endorses the same fundamental principles as those found in the constitution.

‘Upper Coon Valley Congregation.' Upon the above-mentioned foundation, we do hereby organize 'Vor Frelsers Norske Evangelisk Lutherske Menighed' (Our Savior’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation). These resolutions were formulated and adopted by six men: Edward H. Erickson, Neri Olson, Harris Erickson, Johannes Anderson, Lars C. Sagmoen and Hans Bakkestuen. This group elected the following temporary officers: Neri Olson, president; Edward Erickson, secretary, and Lars Sagmoen,treasurer.

 A second meeting was held on April 27, 1898, and the following business was transacted:

1. The name of the congregation was changed to “Vangs Norske Evangelisk-Lutherske Menighet” (Vang Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation). This was done in honor of Tosten Vangen who donated the land which was to be used for the church and cemetery.

 2. The congregation decided to join the “Norwegian Synod” and call Rev. H. Halvorsen who was pastor of the "Coon Prairie Congregation" at Westby. The Letter of Call was sent on April 30 (1898) and Rev. Halvorsen accepted."

When the congregation met on May 22, 1898, plans for the new church were accepted. The constitution, drafted by Ole Anderson, Hans Erickson and Rev. H. Halvorsen, was adopted on May 30, 1898 and signed by the following charter members: Johannes Andersen, Christian C. Bakkestuen, Hans Bakkestuen, Torger G. Bakkestuen, Hans Erickson, Harris Erickson, Matthias Johnson, Ole Larson, Ole O. Nerison, John Oberson, Ole O. Odegaarden, Neri Olson, Anton H. Peterson, Ole P. Role, Edward Ruud, Lars C. Sagmoen, John Sisbach, John L. Strangstad, Johan Sund, Iver Tostensen, Neri Tveidt and Edward Vangen. Additional members added in 1898 were Ole Lee, Gustave Nelson and Peter Ringholen. In 1899 members added were Ole Anderson, Ole Peterson, Johannes J. Strangstad and Tosten Vangen.

Theodore Thoreson of Westby was given the contract to build the church. The total cost of the church was $1,700. On Nov. 11, 1898 the church, which included pews, altar, pulpit and baptismal font, was dedicated. The church bell was installed in 1899. The church measured 30 feet by 50 feet and the steeple tower was 10 feet by 10 feet at the base. The steeple towered 75 feet high. The church held an all day festival to celebrate the dedication with the Ladies Aid serving dinners. The Ladies Aid, which was organized on May 19, 1898 at the home of Mrs. Johannes Liajordet, paid $150.00 toward the cost of building the church. The Ladies Aid also trimmed the pulpit and the altar, donated the altar cloth, and the altar silver. The Ladies Aid of the Vang Church was very active in the affairs of the church.

The Golden Anniversary book further states:

"To begin with, many of the women walked to the meetings carrying the children who were too small to walk.  Where the distances were too great, horses and lumber wagons were used.  (There were very few single and double buggies in those days)."

"In August 1899, there was a storm which moved the church from its proper place on the foundation. The congregation met on August 26th and decided to repair the damage at once. This work was left in the hands of a committee consisting of Johan Sund, Haagen Olsen and Ole Anderson. According to the records of the meeting held Oct. 21, the cost of repairing the damage was $250.24. 

"In April 1900, fifty pines were bought at twenty cents each. Tosten Vangen volunteered to plant them and care for them."

Later additions to the church were the installation of a pipe organ in 1911, a basement under the church in 1927 and a furnace was bought by the Ladies Aid. The church was rededicated in 1937. The Ladies Aid also purchased electric lights for the church in 1940. In 1948, the year of the Golden Anniversary, the installation of beautiful stained glass windows was paid for by the Ladies Aid. The congregation gave many gifts to the church, including the rose window behind the altar, altar cross, bibles and stands. The chandelier in the church that was donated by the Ladies Aid was very beautiful and ornate with places for candles. That chandelier, refitted for electricity, still hangs in the church. They also donated the pews for the church.

In 1949, a new roof was put on the church and a new oil burning furnace installed. More work, done in 1950, included lowering the pulpit, and removing the old pipe organ. The Ladies Aid had new carpeting installed. In 1951, the new organ for the church was installed. A well was drilled in 1965.

In 1973, an addition was added to the church, which covered the front steps, provided space for restrooms, coat rooms and an area that could be used for extra seating. A telephone was installed in the church in 1975 and an illuminated cross was placed on the new addition. Throughout the years, the church has undergone extensive remodeling and improvements made possible by many donations and gifts by members of the congregation. Many of Tosten and Anne’s descendants are still members of this church.

The Vang Church has always been served by the pastors of the Coon Prairie congregation in Westby. Rev. Halvorsen served from 1898 until his death in 1921. The Rev. J. O. Holum served until his resignation in April 1947, although he continued to serve as an interim pastor until January 4, 1948 at which time, Rev. H. O. Aasen was installed. The church continues to share pastors with the Coon Prairie congregation. 

In a note from the history of the church that was prepared for the 90th anniversary in 1988, I found the following:

Vang Church and Cemetery

"When they (the Ladies Aid) decorated the church at funerals, someone would gather juniper branches. The green was stripped from the twigs and strewn on the floor of the aisle and chancel. Wreathes were often woven with myrtle or evergreen and placed on the caskets." 

Anne Amundsdatter Vangen died Jan. 13, 1917 at the age of 82 and her husband, Tosten Eriksen Vangen died Sept. 7, 1918 at the age of 85. Both are buried in Vang Cemetery. Many of Tosten and Anne’s family are buried in the same cemetery. 

In Rev. H. O. Aasen’s greetings to the congregation in 1948, he wrote “There was a time when Tosten Vangen’s farm looked like anyone else’s farm. Now there is a church and tombstones — many tombstones. These mark the places where the dust of many of those who once worshipped here waits for the day when it is to come forth from the grave to meet the Lord Jesus Christ and be assigned a place in eternity.”

Today, as you drive by on Highway 14 at night, the illuminated cross atop the steeple of the Vang Church can be seen from the highway. It is a beautiful church that has been lovingly preserved and cared for by the congregation and is still in use today.  

Note: Parts of this article originally appeared in the 2011 Gudbransdalslaget Yearbook. Used with permission of Gudbrandsdalslaget.