Pastor Rachel of Good Shepherd and Maggie Ericson of Saron accepting the 2023 Bright Spot award

Norwegian immigrants living in Ashland founded Nidaros Lutheran Church in February 1884. Its first pastor was offered a yearly salary of $200. Men from the congregation started building a permanent structure in 1888, where the Cobblestone Inn parking lot is today. It was formally dedicated in 1892.

In 1963, the congregation broke ground to build a new church on 3rd Street and 13th Avenue West. It was completed in 1965 and was officially renamed
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

More recently, Good Shepherd has been awarded the 2022 Bright Spot award for working on Living in Faith Ecumenically- LIFE ministry with the UPCC Church in Ashland, Area Methodist Churches, and Messiah and Port Wing Lutheran Churches.
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In 2023 Saron Lutheran Church and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church were awarded the Bright Spot award for their cooperative youth ministry work through Flock. 
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We're excited as the history of our church continues to grow and develop!