The chapel of Ormsjö was built because of the tragic drowning accident on
lake Ormsjö that occurred on May 12th, 1936. The incident shocked the
people of Ormsjö and the surrounding area.
The Origin of the Chapel
On August 27, 1937 an official meeting took place in Dorotea.
In this meeting, information was given to initiate a plan to obtain a ground plot
to build the future chapel. A farmer in Ormsjö, Erik Eliasson and his wife Alexia
Eliasson promised to donate a piece of their farm in memory of their two sons,
Bror Elias and Erik Anselm who drowned in the accident. At the meeting,
under the direction of perpetual curate Alfred Guldbrandzén, an organization was
formed called, "The Establishment of Ormsjö Chapel." The roles of the
Establishment were to take care of the piece of ground plot where the chapel is
built. Also in the future a Evangelica-Lutheran parishioner could work in the chapel.
The fees for membership in the Establishment were either to pay 2 Swedish crowns
every year or to pay the full amount, fifty Swedish crowns for a lifetime membership.
Members of the First Board for the Years of 1937-1940 Included:
Alfred Guldbrandzén (the perpetual curate) chairman and secretary
Richard Rodling Vice chairman and Vice secretery
Thyra Aldén Cashier
Erik Eliasson Member
Anselm Eliasson Member
Olga Marklund Member
Georg Persson Member
Letter With the Gift of the Ground Plot to the Chapel
On May 12, 1938, exactly two years from the accident, Erik and Alexia Eliasson
signed the letter donating the ground plot to the chapel. During the planning stages
of the chapel, services were often held in the schoolbuilding in Ormsjö.
Design Proposal of the Chapel
At a meeting with the members, the board proposed that lay worker
Richard Rodling draw plans for the chapel in Ormsjö. This included one big room
for about 200 - 250 visitors, a smaller room and a kitchen. Guldbrandzén estimated
the cost at twenty thousand Swedish crowns to build a chapel of that size.
In November Guldbrandzén had written a letter to the education authority asking if he could buy
the old schoolhouse in Ormsjö. The plans were to recycle the material for the chapel project.
The Board of Works
The Bishop's Visit 1939
The Foundation
The Offer on the Old Schoolhouse in Ormsjö
The Tender to Build the Chapel
The Cathedral Chapter Agree to the Rules for the Chapel in Ormsjö
Building of the Chapel is Started
Contractors for Building the Chapel
The Chandelier in the Churchroom
The Crucifix, the Altar and the Pulpit are all Gifts from
Reverend Staffan Wallmark's Altarpiece
The Decision Between the Altarpiece or the Crucifix
A Gift From Ingemar and Kristina Persson
The First Service in Ormsjö Chapel
The First Churchwarden in Ormsjö Chapel
Rector Jonasons First Service
The First Candidates for Confirmation
The First Organist and the First Prayers in the Chapel
The Collection Bag, a Gift from Jenny Kristoffersson
A Haven for Finnish Runaways
The Detached Bell Tower
The Chairmen of the Establishment of Ormsjö Chapel
On May 12, 1996, a memorial service was held on the 60th
In February 1939, lay worker Rodlings draft of the chapel was presented at
the meeting. Two drafts were offered: One with a tower and one without.
At the same meeting they chose a committee, board of works, which would
have the responsibility to build the chapel.
The committee would have full responsiblity to order material and obtain other
items needed inside(i.e., chairs, tables, lights, ect); but they absolutely had
to report to the chairman of the board, Guldbrandzén. The following people were
chosen to the board of works to have this responsibility:
The farmer A. N. Aldén (also chairman of the commitee)
Erik Eliasson and Anselm Eliasson
Businessman Ernst Sjöström.
On November 10, 1939 Bishop Bengt Jonzon from Luleå
(a city in nothern Sweden) visited Dorotea.
and also the ground plot of the future chapel
in Ormsjö, where, Guldbrandzén informed him about plans to build a chapel.
The bishop spoke these words:
"A little while ago the people here were shocked by the accident, as it was
told to all the people of Sweden. It was mournful tidings told by the radio
stations and newspapers that fourteen young men, floaters, on the way to
their homeplaces have there lives end in the cold water of lake Ormsjön.
One does not wonder why the people in Ormsjö would like rapidly build there
loving chapel so that one special day will come when fathers, mothers and
other mourners can pray together in the stillness and warmth of a christian room.
I wish all of you all the best building the chapel and I hope to get back here for
the opening of the chapel."
The foundation of the chapel was poured in 1939. However the building was
delayed due to the lack of written plans and also because of World War II.
During the same time period, some of the professional builders were called
to duty in the Swedish army or they were able to find better paying jobs
somewhere else. Also, the banks tightened lending practices if they were
unable to have an encumbrance in a farm. The building comittee halted work on
the chapel concentrating on finishing the architectual design, collecting more
revenue and studying alternate ways to build the chapel.
In a board meeting on November 24, 1940, Anselm Eliasson and A. N. Aldén
inquired about the drawing designs for the chapel. They were told that the
drawings were in progress and would be finished shortly. In February 25, 1941
the lay worker, Rodling, handed over his drawing designs for the chapel.
In notes from March 11, 1941 the education authority wrote that they had
the offers from the tenderer who wanted to buy the old schoolhouse in Ormsjö.
There were two people interested in the house. One was the postman Isak A.
Isaksson in Ormsjö who offered 400 Swedish crowns for the whole schoolhouse
(except two stoves) and the other was the board of Ormsjö chapel by
Guldbrandzén for 450 Swedish crowns for the schoolhouse. The board also
offered 250 Swedish crowns for the furniture(tables, chairs, ect), windows,
doors, stoves, floors, ceiling, and chimneystoves. Guldbrandzén's bid was
accepted on March 1st of that year and the education authority decided to sell the
old schoolbuilding.
However the chairman of the education authority decided not sell the stoven
the lesson room where the youngest children received their education.
The Board of Works officially asked for bids to build the chapel. On June 7,
1941 the board of works decided to hire Karl Westergren, Karl Svensson
and Henrik Bredberg, all from Ormsjö, to build the chapel. The men's duties
were limited to raising the walls, making the floor, installing the windows,
hanging the front door and completing the roof. The board of works provided
all the material that was needed which was purchased from Dorotea
Konsumentstoore. By the end of the year 1941 the chapel had a roof.
In December 20, 1941 the Cathedral Chapter annouced that they agree with
the rules of "The Establishment of Ormsjö Chapel".
In a report from the Board of Works December 31, 1941 it was written:
"The walls of the chapel have been made. Instead of the original plan of
using hot air for warming up the chapel, we have decided to use a larger
so called "Lundbergsstove" which was purchased at the same time as the
old schoolhouse. Plans were changed in the roof making room for a
churchbell in the future. The smaller room inside and the kitchen are
almost done. Steps also had been built to the organ loft. An upstairs apartment
was also designed for a porter or a smaller family."
The annual report for 1941 stated:
The contractors were Carl Westergren, Carl Svensson and Henrik Bredberg.
The bricklaying was completed by Östen Olofsson from Månsberget. The
finishing carpentry work was completed by Leonard Jonsson from Ormsjö.
It also tells that the board borrowed 4 thousand Swedish crowns with a simple,
hand written promissary note. The man who lent the money was Anselm Eliasson.
On June 28, 1942, Guldbrandzén informed the Board of Works that Ormsjö
Chapel had obtained the chandelier from Dorotea's older church.
the Perpetual Curate Guldbrandzén
The chairman of the board informed the rest of the board that sculptor Torborg
Lindberg in Storbäck was willing to make a crucifix which was to be placed at
the altar. The chairman of the board offered to pay for the crucifix only if the
Society of Ormsjö Chapel would accept those gifts from him. The Board of Works
would order the altar and the pulpit from Leonard Jonsson who had also built other
furnishings for the chapel.
On September 13, 1942 Anselm Eliasson said that Reverend Wallmark
promised to create an altarpiece named " Jesus walking from Jerusalem
to Golgata", giving it to Ormsjö Chapel. During the board meeting, he displayed
a drawing of the altarpiece. The Board discussed and decided that with much
appreciation would gladly receive the altarpiece. When the altarpiece was
dedicated, it was revealed that the only charge for the altarpiece was the paint,
or about eighty-five Swedish crowns.
On August 21, 1943 the board discussed the use of the altarpiece or the crucifix.
There was debate on whether the chapel should use the altarpiece or the crucifix.
The crucifix was a magnificient work that deserved to be displayed in some form within
the chapel or other chapels throughout the region. There wasn't room for two items at the
front of the church by the altar. The board members asked if they also could use both
the crucifix and altarpiece together in Ormsjö Chapel. They promised to place the crucifix
where it was orginally planned. Mister Widegren and lay worker Rodling had ideas where
the crucifix and the altarpiece could be placed.
On September 26, 1943, Ingemar Persson and his wife Kristina donated an
organ to the chapel. The organ was first owned by the farmer Per Pålsson in Ormsjö.
When Per Pålsson died, the family sold the effects of the late Mr. Per Pålsson.
His son, Ingemar Persson, purchased the organ which was made by the Chicago
Organ Company, Chicago, Illinois.
On November 21, 1943 at 11:00 AM, perpetual curate Guldbrandzén held
the first service in Ormsjö Chapel..
On November 27, 1943 the board of Dorotea Church accepted the offer from
Ormsjö Chapel to chose Mr. Adolf Napoleon Aldén and Mr Anselm Eliasson
as churchwardens with Erik Eliasson as alternate.
On Sunday, March 5th, 1944 C. F. Jonason held his first service in the
chapel. The choir sang and an organist from Höglands (a place 2 miles from Ormsjö)
played the hymns.
Bishop Bengt Jonzons Opening of Ormsjö Chapel 1944
The opening of the chapel was April 16, 1944 by Bishop Bengt Jonzon.
The following priests assisted Bishop Bengt Jonzon:
Dean Hugo Berlin Lycksele
Rector Carl Ferdinand Jonason Dorotea
Headmaster Lennart Wallmark Sorsele
Reverend Staffan Wallmark Jokkmokk
Perpetual Curate Theodor Möllerberg Risbäck
Perpetual Curate Alfred Guldbrandzén Dorotea
At 10:00 AM bishop Bengt Jonzon opened the chapel with a service.
At 4:00 PM Headmaster Lennart Wallmark presided over a service.
At 7:00PM Reverand Staffan Wallmark presided over the final service.
The bishop shared with the visitors about future events in the chapel
which included prayer services.
Confirmation of thirty-three young people from Ormsjö was on
June 23, 1944 with Holy Communion the following day. It marked a historic event
with the chapel's first confirmation class.
At a board meeting on November 12, 1944, teacher Birgit Lundström was
choosen to be the organist in Ormsjö Chapel.
During the same time period, according to the bishop's wishes, Thyra Aldén
and Rosa Jacobsson were chosen to be teachers. They were to lead the
prayers during Sundays and other Holy days when the priest was not able to attend.
In 1944, the Society of the Chapel received a collection bag as a gift from
the teacher Jenny Kristoffersson from Kalmar. It was given in memory of
her mother, Lisa Andersson of Frostviken. As a young girl Lisa Andersson
worked in Ormsjö.
In a note dated April 22, 1945:
It was reported that the Swedish Government, by edict during the winter
months, had requested the chapel be utilized for the Finnish runaway people.
The chapel had been used as a schoolhouse and a hospital from November 20,
1944 until April 11, 1945 suspending services for that time period. A.N. Aldén
asked the government for money for the time the chapel had been used as a
hospital and schoolhouse for rent, cleaning and repairs.
The detached bell tower of Ormsjö Chapel was built in 1951 designed by lay
worker Rodling. The churchbell was bought from K. E. Bergholtz & Co in
Stockholm for two thousand Swedish crowns. The bell was seventy-five
centimeters in diameter and weighed 250 kg. In a order from the board on
May 29, 1950, the following words were to be inscribed on churchbell:
Let your ring o bell be sound
over district beautiful and bright
Small and big human beings invite
up to the house of the Lord
1937 - 1950 Perpetual Curate Alfred Guldbrandzén
1950 - 1963 Farmer Alfred Napoleon Aldén
1963 - 1993 Postman Viktor Fägerborg
1993 - Present None
anniversary of the tragic drowning on the lake. In this year 2006, a memorial
service will be held on May 14 to mark 70th anniversary of accident.
pictures at the chapel
Translation: Bengt-L Persson