North-east Wisconsin includes the scenic Door County peninsula which juts into Lake Michigan. Five miles off the tip of this peninsula lies the small community (pop. 650) of Washington Island. Almost in the middle of the thirty square mile island you will find the Trinity Lutheran Church.
The idea originated about 20 years ago when Trinity's then pastor Chester Nerenhausen suggested developing a meditation park, perhaps with some sort of gazebo on the five acre wooded lot just across the road north of the church.
As the years passed the idea was modified to building a structure reflecting the Scandinavian heritage of many of the island's residents. Fund raising began in 1983, materials were purchased and the foundation laid in 1992. A barnlike structure was first erected to enable work on the stave church all year around.Most of the 2,000 hours of labor to date has been donated. Completion of the altar piece, a three tier "steeple," additional carving including roof dragons and door frames carved in traditional Norwegian style, and other refinements will be done as time and money permits. However, the beautiful brown stave church has already become a favorite attraction for visitors and Islanders alike.
William H. Olson, a reader of News of Norway for many years, thought the structuring of a Norwegian stave church in the heartland of America would be interesting reading, and so did the editor. Mr. Olson retired to the island seven years ago, but seems to live an active pensioner's life. He raises Icelandic sheep, operates a small publishing house and writes for the local paper "Washington Island Observer."