N. F. S. Grundtvig, a Danish pastor, poet, educator, and reformer, gave a new direction to Danish Lutheranism with emphasis on Creation, baptism, communion, the apostolic creed, piety and the folk-traditions of his homeland. Grundtvigian theology came to America with Danish immigrants. It was also brought to Montana by a Danish colony in Dagmar. Here Nathanael Lutheran Church was organized in 1911. District 4 of the larger church came to be known as Volmer Lutheran Church, and in 1917 Volmer built its own church, 24x40 feet, with a 12x12 square foot steeple. The land had been donated, the building cost was moderate ($3,000), and the mother church, Nathanael, continued to give support. Still it was a pioneer venture that called for courage and faith.
The life of Volmer Lutheran Church still reflects its Danish and theological origins. N. F. S. Grundtvig would be pleased. Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday. The Mid-Summer Fest is celebrated with guest speakers that bring religious and cultural edification. Danish folk customs, as well as local customs, are observed and celebrated. Ties to other congregations of Danish origin are carefully maintained, even when geographically distant.
From the guide to the Volmer Lutheran Church, Dagmar, Montana, Records, 1917-2012, (Pacific Lutheran University)
