The Elstad Church is located in Amherst Township, Fillmore County Minnesota. The first Norwegians in the area settled around Newburg directly south of where the church now stands. This included the Ellertson family, who have the distinction of being the first farmers in this area, though they later moved to Highland Prairie.
In 1854 the first services were held at Elstad and Highland Prairie making these two of the oldest congregations still in existence. Family names such as Ask, Elstad, Nepstad, Blagsvedt, Dammen, Flattum and Gullickson are still active in the church today just as their ancestors were almost 150 years ago.
Though it may be hard to visualize the thoughts, fears and hopes of the pioneers as they left their homes in Norway to seek new opportunities in America, we can take strength from the knowledge that they knew the Lord was there to guide them through whatever trials and hardships they might come across. It is no surprise that one of their first concerns was the need for a place of worship. In those early days gatherings were held in homes and the open areas just east of where the present church stands--weather permitting.
Pastor Vilhelm Koren from Washington Prairie near Decorah, Iowa visited this congregation beginning in 1854 and continued to do so for five years. By this time the need for a regular pastor became apparent, thus Highland Prairie and Elstad extended a call to Pastor N. E. Jensen.
