Lind, Jenny, Chapel
Also known as: Swedish Lutheran Church
Why it's listed
Jenny Lind Chapel is a small brick church at Sixth and Oak Streets in Andover, Illinois, measuring roughly 30 by 44 feet. Local brick walls were stuccoed and painted white, and the simple gabled form with a pilastered front reflects the late Greek Revival churches once common in rural Illinois. Inside are a plain open room, a raised wooden chancel with a varnished rail and tall pulpit, an early pedal organ and an oil chandelier. Swedish Lutheran settlers built it under Pastor Lars Paul Esbjorn, beginning in 1851 and dedicating it on December 3, 1854. Funds came from German Lutheran congregations in the East and from the singer Jenny Lind, for whom it is named. It is regarded as the first church building erected in America by Swedish Lutheran immigrants and the mother church of the Augustana Synod, which later merged into the Lutheran Church in America.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that it is the first church building erected on American soil by Swedish Lutheran immigrants and is the cradle of Swedish-American Lutheranism. It was the mother church of the Augustana Synod, which later merged into the Lutheran Church in America. It also follows the pattern of rural late Greek Revival churches, most of which have disappeared.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 75000661, listed April 1, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW corner 6th and Oak Sts., Andover |
|---|---|
| County | Henry County |
| Listed | April 1, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000661 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1851-1854 |
| Architect / builder | Built by the parishioners under Pastor Lars Paul Esbjorn; no architect named |
| Architectural style | Late Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, with a modern furnace installed in 1973 and restoration work under way; the form checks Unoccupied status and a religious present use. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.29158, -90.29890 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 75000661.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23073330
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.