Nicolaus Bergensköld
Encyclopedia
Nils Gustaf Nicolaus Bergensköld (1838–1907) was a disciple of Rosenius
and an early leader of the revivalist movement
in the swedish settlements of the Midwestern United States
during the later part of the 19th century.
, Sweden
in 1838. He studied for the ministry at Fjellstedt school in Uppsala
. From a early age he had been a deciple of Rosenius teachings. After completing his education, he served as a preacher at Överums bruk in Småland
under the guidance of another deciple of Rosenius, a count Stackelberg
. In 1867 He emigrated from Sweden to the United States. There he first settled in Galesburg
, Illinois
. Many people wanted him to preach in the church there, but because of his association with Rosenius, the pastor of the congregation refused him. However, Bergensköld's
friends, several of whom were on the board of deacons, arranged private devotional services, led by Bergensköld.
Eventually the conflict led too a split in the church, and the formation of a mission society
modeled on those in Sweden. One of the first of its kind in the United states.
Bergensköld left Galesburg for Iowa in April of 1869 and was succeeded by a reverend Carl Anderson. Some years later, in 1873, Bergensköld moved to the Swedish colony in Marshall County
, Kansas
where he again helped set up a new mission society. Finally, he again moved back to Buena Vista County, Iowa where he took over as minister of a newly established congregation. A post he served between 1877 and 1881.
Carl Olof Rosenius
Carl Olof Rosenius was a Swedish revivalist preacher, author and editor of the newspaper Pietisten from 1842-1868.-Biography:...
and an early leader of the revivalist movement
Third Great Awakening
The Third Great Awakening was a period of religious activism in American history from the late 1850s to the early 1900s. It affected pietistic Protestant denominations and had a strong sense of social activism. It gathered strength from the postmillennial theology that the Second Coming of Christ...
in the swedish settlements of the Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
during the later part of the 19th century.
Biography
Nicolaus Bergensköld was born in SmålandSmåland
' is a historical province in southern Sweden.Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands. . The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1838. He studied for the ministry at Fjellstedt school in Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
. From a early age he had been a deciple of Rosenius teachings. After completing his education, he served as a preacher at Överums bruk in Småland
Småland
' is a historical province in southern Sweden.Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands. . The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages...
under the guidance of another deciple of Rosenius, a count Stackelberg
Stackelberg
Stackelberg can refer to:People* Berndt Otto Stackelberg, senior, Swedish Field Marshal* Berndt Otto Stackelberg, junior, Swedish Field Marshal* Christoph von Stackelberg, Estonian, second husband of Josephine Brunsvik...
. In 1867 He emigrated from Sweden to the United States. There he first settled in Galesburg
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Many people wanted him to preach in the church there, but because of his association with Rosenius, the pastor of the congregation refused him. However, Bergensköld's
friends, several of whom were on the board of deacons, arranged private devotional services, led by Bergensköld.
Eventually the conflict led too a split in the church, and the formation of a mission society
Mission Covenant Church of Sweden
The Mission Covenant Church of Sweden , founded in 1878, is a Swedish Reformed free church. It is the second-largest Christian denomination in the country, after the national church, the Church of Sweden...
modeled on those in Sweden. One of the first of its kind in the United states.
Bergensköld left Galesburg for Iowa in April of 1869 and was succeeded by a reverend Carl Anderson. Some years later, in 1873, Bergensköld moved to the Swedish colony in Marshall County
Marshall County, Kansas
Marshall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 10,117. The largest city and county seat is Marysville.- History :...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
where he again helped set up a new mission society. Finally, he again moved back to Buena Vista County, Iowa where he took over as minister of a newly established congregation. A post he served between 1877 and 1881.
Additional reading
- Bowman, C.V. Missionsvännerna i Amerika: En återblick på deras uppkomst och första verksamhetstid. (Minneapolis, Minn: Minneapolis Veckoblad Publ. Co. 1907) http://libsysdigi.library.uiuc.edu/oca/Books2008-03/missionsvnnern00bowm/missionsvnnern00bowm.pdf