Bovre Congregation
1860-1887
"Now may the Lord bless this step which we have taken not out of a desire for discord and dissuasion but compelled by the voice of our conscience." With this prayer on their lips, six families met at Lars Bovre's farm on June 22, 1860 to organize the Bovre Congregation, Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church. They had separated themselves from the West Koshkonong Church because of disagreements on significant issues of doctrine and pastoral matters. This marker commemorates their courage in taking action based on their avowed principles.
They built their church and platted a cemetery in 1864 in Pleasant Springs Township on land purchased from Lars Bovre. Membership increased to about 50, including T.G. Mandt (Mandt Wagon Works, Stoughton) and the parents of John A. Johnson (Gisholt Machine Co., Madison). In 1887, because of declining membership, Bovre Congregation merged with First Lutheran Church in Stoughton.
Marker is at the intersection of County Highway B and Spring Road, on the right when traveling east on County Highway B.
Courtesy hmdb.org
