Historical Marker

Four Mile Lutheran Church

Phalba · Van Zandt County · Dedicated 1964 · THC Atlas #5467011412

The roadside stories worth pulling over for.

Marker Inscription

Congregation established 1848. Successive churches erected in 1854, 1875, 1941, 1955. Texas' first Norwegian Lutheran Church. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1964

About this site

Four Mile Lutheran Church is a historical marker in Phalba, Van Zandt County, dedicated in 1964. It is one of 84 historical markers documented in Van Zandt County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 169 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.4936, -96.0704 near Phalba. The nearest cataloged historic site is Four Mile Cemetery (cemetery), about 0.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include Aanonsen Cemetery, Field Cemetery, and Tarver Cemetery.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5467011412. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.

History

Four Mile Lutheran Church traces its origins to 1847-48, when Johan Reiersen led a group of Norwegian Lutheran immigrants to Four Mile Prairie in western Van Zandt County. It is considered the oldest Lutheran congregation in Texas; the first church building was raised in 1853, and the adjoining cemetery holds graves dating to 1848. Land for the church and cemetery was donated by pioneer settler and writer Elise Waerenskjold.

Sources: fourmilelutheranchurch.org texascooppower.com norwegiansocietyoftexas.org

📍 32.4936, -96.0704 · Phalba, Van Zandt County

Directions (Apple)Google Maps View map

Get Texas Roam — all 28,000 sites in your pocket

See this site and every marker, cemetery, courthouse, museum and landmark across Texas on one live map — find what's near you, get directions, and check in as you roam.

or open the live map in your browser →Free · ad-free · the iOS app and the web map share one account, so your visits sync across both

Nearby in Van Zandt County

Elm Grove Union Church