Gethsemane's History
Gethsemane traces its history back to September, 1894, when two different congregations were formed in Virginia. Immigrants from Sweden and Finland, drawn to the area to work in the mines and the sawmills and desiring to worship God in their native languages, organized themselves into churches.
Twenty Finns founded Suomalainen Evangeli Luther Kirkko on September 9, 1894. Later, the name was changed to Zion Lutheran Church. The organizational meeting for Svenska Lutherska Mamre Forsmalinger, or First Lutheran Church, took place on September 12, 1894. In 1956-1958, a new First Lutheran was built at the current location with distinctive architecture.
When both congregations became part of the Lutheran Church in America in 1962, joining together seemed faithful. In March, 1963, both churches voted to merge together and utilize the new First Lutheran building. A new name was chosen: Gethsemane Evangelical Lutheran Church. In 1987, Gethsemane became a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Gethsemane is proud of its 111-year history of being the Christian Church in Virginia, with an emphasis on Holy Word and Holy Sacrament, and with lives dedicated to Christ evident among its pastors and lay people.