Site of Swedish Evangelical Free Church
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Worship services started in 1889 by Swedish immigrants led to founding of Swedish Evangelical Free Church in Decker community (10 mi. E) in July 1892. A similar Swedish congregation originated in April 1904 at Elroy (20 mi. SE). In 1923 the two congregations merged, relocated in Austin, and in 1925 built a church on this site. Swedish was spoken in services until the 1930s. Renamed "First Evangelical Free Church" in 1952, the fellowship erected a new building on Red River street in 1962, after selling this property to the State of Texas. (1977)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Swedish immigrants farming the Decker and Elroy communities east of Austin began worship services in 1889, formally founding a Swedish Evangelical Free congregation in 1892. Two such congregations merged in 1923, relocated into Austin, and built a church on this site in 1925, where services were held in Swedish until the 1930s. Renamed First Evangelical Free Church, the fellowship moved on in 1962 after selling the property to the State of Texas.
Why it matters
It traces how immigrant faith communities preserved their language and identity on the Texas frontier, then gradually assimilated across the twentieth century.
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Themes & tags
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