Concordia Congregation was created in 1891 from the merger of the two congregations that served the North and South communities of the Buffalo River Settlement. The church building was erected by the members of "Our Savior's" (south congregation) on land procured from Vetle Lisland. The main part of the church was completed in 1884.

Location of Concordia Church on the 1909 Moland Township Plat Map

That structure was destroyed by a tornado on May 27, 1931.  In the sanctuary, two candlesticks and the baptismal font were spared from the tornado's destruction. The picture now above the altar is familiar to anyone who has visited Concordia, but the one we see today is not the original. Orabel Thortvedt created a new altar picture of "Jesus at Gethsemane" to replace the one (shown here) damaged by the tornado.  (The baptismal font was restored   in the mid-1970's and is now displayed in the building entry.)

The church's china was stored under tablecloths on the tables in the basement of the church.  Those who came to survey the damage after the storm were amazed to find the plates, still covered, intact and untouched. It was said (with a smile) that the Lord paid tribute to all of the good meals served by the Ladies Aid by saving the plates!!  

A latter-day pastor observed that there was a more profound message left in the wake of the storm:  The two central sacraments of the Church, Baptism and Communion,  were symbolically reaffirmed by the survival of the font and the plates.

 Despite the financial difficulties caused by the Depression, Concordia Congregation laid the cornerstone for the current building on October 9,1938. 

An expanded entry was added to the church in 1974.

An elevator was added in 2001.

Concordia remains a living congregation, associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). Tracing its roots back to the earliest gathering of settlers, Concordia celebrates its 135th anniversary in 2007.

Take a look at a Satellite View of the Church