The Jenny Lind Chapel is a historic church located at the southwest corner of 6th and Oak Streets in Andover, Illinois. Completed in 1851 for a congregation founded the previous year, the church was the first built by the Augustana Synod, the main Swedish Lutheran church in America. Pastor Lars Paul Ebsjorn founded the church for local Swedes who still wished to worship with the Church of Sweden; many were former members of the nearby Bishop Hill Colony who had lost faith in Eric Jansson's teachings, while the others were Swedes who had immigrated to the area due to the colony's fame. The church was named in honor of Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind, who donated $1,500 for its construction. The building has a simple design with Greek Revival features, a common form for small rural churches of the era.[2]

Jenny Lind Chapel
Jenny Lind Chapel is located in Illinois
Jenny Lind Chapel
Jenny Lind Chapel is located in the United States
Jenny Lind Chapel
LocationSW corner 6th and Oak Sts., Andover, Illinois
Coordinates41°17′29″N 90°17′56″W / 41.29139°N 90.29889°W / 41.29139; -90.29889
Area0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Built1851 (1851)
Architectural styleGreek Revival
NRHP reference No.75000661[1]
Added to NRHPApril 1, 1975

The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 1, 1975.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Lestor, Albert D. (February 15, 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Jenny Lind Chapel" (PDF). Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2016.