ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

ALVORD MEMORIAL CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOUR RECORDS

COLLECTION: OGL#1478

DATES: 1903-2003

SIZE: 6.5 linear feet

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The Alvord Memorial Church of Our Saviour Records were deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection by Donna Pettit, Grand Forks, North Dakota, on November 17, 2003 (Acc.#2004-2701).

ACCESS: Available for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

In 1898, settlers from England and parts of Canada came to the Langdon, North Dakota, area and established an Episcopal mission. It became known as the Mission of the Holy Spirit, and would later become Alvord Memorial Church of Our Saviour. At the time the mission had only ten communicants. In 1900, under the Rev. Edward W. Burleson, a Vicar at the Episcopal Church in Park River, the name of the mission was changed to St. James.

Until 1903 St. James was stationed in a rented building and was served by Park River priests. However, the Missionary District of North Dakota was given a $4,000 gift from Mrs. Edward J. Brown of New York City to build a memorial church for her parents. The mission in Langdon was chosen as the recipient of the gift and construction of the new church building was started later that year. The church was consecrated on January 6, 1904, by the bishop of North Dakota, the Rt. Rev. Cameron Mann. The name was then changed to the Alvord Memorial Church of Our Saviour.

By 1913 there were still only twelve communicants listed. The reason for such slow expansion was the absence of a resident priest. From 1913 through the 1950s there was only one resident minister and he only stayed for two years. The church was mainly served by priests from Park River and Devils Lake. By 1963 the church saw considerable growth, having 50 members consisting of 17 families. The church was eventually deconsecrated on November 15, 2003, one hundred and five years after the mission initially began.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Alvord Memorial Church of Our Saviour Records dates from 1903 to 2003. Found are registers of church services, which document church attendance, and parish registers which include lists of communicants, baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and burials.

Also included are Sunday School records, correspondence, financial information, a scrapbook, hymnals, a bible, and a certificate of consecration. Meeting minutes of the St. James Guild, a women's group, and the Bishop's Committee, which oversaw many decisions made within the church ranging from Sunday School meeting times to building maintenance, are also included.

BOX AND FOLDER INVENTORY


Box 1
Folder 1

  1. Register of Church Services, 1927-1961.
  2. Register of Church Services, 1962-1989.
  3. Loose Items found in Register of Church Services, 1962-1989.
  4. Register of Church Services, 1990-2003.
  5. Loose Items Found in Register of Church Services, 1990-2003.
  6. Canonical Parish Register, 1962-1992
  7. Loose Items Found in Canonical Parish Register, 1962-1992.
  8. Sunday School Records, 1961-1997.
  9. Correspondence, 1969-1997.
  10. Financial Records, Donations and Expenses 1936-1938.
  11. "S.E. Ledger" Financial Records, Donations and Expenses 1931-1955.
  12. Loose Items Found in "S.E. Ledger" 1931-1955.
  13. Financial Records, Donations and Expenses 1956-1961.
  14. Financial Records, Bank Check Register, 1927.
  15. Financial Records, Bank Check Register, 1953-1961.
  16. Financial Records, 1932-1952.
  17. Loose Items Found in Financial Records, 1932-1952.
  18. Financial Records, 1966-1969.
  19. Donations Record "The 'D.E Perfection Record'" 1924-1927.
  20. St. James Guild meeting minutes, 1915-1929.
  21. St. James Guild meeting minutes, 1930-1948.
  22. Loose Items Found in St. James Guild meeting minutes, 1930-1948.
  23. St. James Guild meeting minutes, 1949-1959.
  24. Loose Items Found in St. James Guild meeting minutes, 1949-1959.
  25. St. James Guild meeting minutes, 1960-1972.
  26. Loose Items Found in St. James Guild meeting minutes, 1960-1972.
  27. St. James Guild meeting minutes, 1973-1977.
  28. Loose Items Found in St. James Guild meeting minutes, 1973-1977.
  29. Girls Friendly Society meeting minutes 1925-1934.
  30. Loose Items Found in Girls Friendly Society meeting minutes 1925-1934.

Box 2
Folder 1

  1. Bishop's Committee meeting minutes, 1953-1968.
  2. Loose Items Found in Bishop's Committee meeting minutes, 1953-1968.
  3. Bishop's Committee meeting minutes, 1977-1985.
  4. Loose Items Found in Bishop's Committee meeting minutes, 1977-1985.
  5. The Episcopal Churchwomen meeting minutes, 1982-1991.
  6. Loose Items Found in The Episcopal Churchwomen meeting minutes, 1982- 1991.
  7. Banner, "Our Saviour, Langdon."
  8. Plaque, "Our Saviour's Episcopal, Langdon."

Box 3

Certificate of Consecration, January 6, 1903
Canonical Church Register
Parish Cash Book

Box 4

Book Of Remembrance
Scrapbook

Box 5

Bible, 1903
Hymnal, 1903
The Church Hymnal, revised and enlarged edition, 1899

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