The land for Brooklyn Cemetery was donated by Constantine Branch and the first burials were in 1874.

           The cemetery fence and brick fence were gifts from the Axel Norman estate in 1944. The cemetery was last enlarged by a two acre gift from the A.J. Norman family. The shelter belt of evergreen trees was given by the Kennedy-Soderstrom family.

          The annual national conference of the Evangelical Free Church was held at Brooklyn Church June 17-26, 1925. For many years the denomination has been too large for any one church to pay host. Concerning the event, the Beresford Republic wrote: “Brooklyn is a busy place as the visiting ministers are being cared for with the hospitality of the Swedish people. And away from the clanging bells of street cars, the honks of the auto horn in the congested streets, the blast of the locomotive, the swish of the city. The retirement to the countryside lends a worshipful air and visitors declare they enjoy it.” A large tent had been pitched on the church grounds. When the conference session was in Swedish, the services in the tent would be in English and vice versa. The guests stayed in the homes of the members and meals were cooked and served by the Ladies Aid.

     Another lay pastor was Constantine Branch who had immigrated to America in 1869. He homesteaded on the quarter of land where the Brooklyn church was built. Branch donated three acres for the church and cemetery. He would tell the children, "Oh, I would like to take you all in my arms and bring you all to Jesus and lay you all at His feet." Gwen Nielsen and Norman Erickson are great grandchildren of Branch.

     The Brooklyn Church members had their services in the Swedish language. In 1914 some of the homesteaders thought the Sunday School should be in English. The motion was voted down 26 to 14. The English speaking group left and held services at the Brooklyn schoolhouse. On November 14 they settled some of their language differences. A hundred Swedish songbooks, Hemlands Klochen, (Homelands Bell) were ordered in 1909. The business meetings were recorded in the Swedish language until 1925. During the 1930's and 40's a Swedish Sunday morning service was held once a month. The last year the Swedish services were held in the basement and English services upstairs.

     Rev. Milton G. Nelson (1946-1950) was the second pastor to produce a Sunday morning radio program. This program was all English and one half hour long. Nelson named this air time “The Church by the Side of the Road”. This program used church members for musical numbers. Nelson and his wife often sang duets. The program aired over a Sioux Falls station. He and his wife were the first to live in the parsonage in Beresford. Nelson died in 1950. The Rodman brothers, George and Fred, served as interim pastors until June 1951.

     For many years (late 1930’3-1970’s) carnations were presented to each Mother present at the Sunday morning service. Mothers were asked to stand and the young girls had white or pink carnations to give them.The white carnations were given to those who had a deceased mother. The pink carnation (or sometimes red) were presented to those who had living mothers. The Daughter’s Auxiliary, an adjunct of the WMS, sponsored a Mother-Daughter tea. A program from 1948 had Marilyn Norman as chairman. The theme was “Flowers in the Garden Christians". Program numbers were: Tribute by Elvina Carlson, Toasts by Phyllis Sundstrom and Ruth Fahlberg, short talks by Ida Anderson, Jean Seashore, Lorraine Norman, and Esther Nelson, solos by Leila Soderstrom and Dorthy Heglin, a duet by Betty Fahlberg and Maye Holms, and Gwenneth Erickson played the offertory. After the Daughter Auxiliary disbanded the WMS held a Mother-Daughter Luncheon until the WMS quit their regular monthly meetings.

Some of the church organizations were active for many years but changed due to changes in life style, ease of travel to other events and mothers working outside the home.  Attendance became less. Daily Vacation Bible School lasted two weeks and was introduced by Rev. Glen Nelson (1930-35). Bible School continued on until 1973 when Pastor Arlyn and Janice Abrams started Day Camp at Bulow Park Ruth Seashore organized the Mission Band (1935) for children. The children met before Sunday night services. It was time to learn Bible Verses and sign choruses.  In 1966, Mrs. Detlov Lindquist started Children’s Church since Mission Band had quit. It was on Sunday night with a similar format.Children’s church quit in 1972.The Ladies Aide (WMS) began in 1880’s and continued for approximately a hundred years. Men’s Fellowship was established in 1952. Vincent Swanson was the first chairman. The men had monthly meetings, donated to missions and held services at Gospel Mission.  The Heritage Choir was organized for senior citizens in 1976. The choir sang for Sunday evening services and at retirement homes. They were led by Alice Mae Kennedy, Doreen Fahlberg, and Donald Thissell. Another change was the instruction of 12-13 year olds. Up until the early 50’s, Martin Luther’s Blue Confirmation Book was used and many scriptures memorized. It was replaced by an instruction book printed by the Free Church.

Memberships were accepted after the church had been incorporated in May 1882. There were 48 charter members.Since membership has not been pressed there are more people attending than are members. Membership is granted upon a testimony of faith in Jesus Christ. The church practices adult believers baptism.   Brooklyn now has a baptistery in the Youth Building For many years Brooklyn had their baptism services at Dalesburg Baptist and Westside Evangelical Free Church.

Here are some comparisons between then and now for some holidays and occasions.

New Year’s Eve was celebrated 9-12 p.m. The night began with a program--next was pie and coffee time and the guys assembled to pray in the New Year.

The Young People’s Bible Camps were at Swan Lake, Lake Poinsett and Camp Judson in the Black Hills Now they go to various places like Boundary Waters, Louisiana, Pine Ridge, and Hidden Acres Camp in Iowa

Fourth of July was the date for the Sunday School picnic. Centerville Beach was the place. The picnic area provided a screened club house, playground equipment, concessions stand, and a slide for those who liked to swim. These favorites are gone. Now the picnic is usually at Bulow Park, Beresford and on the last Sunday in August.  Lunch after a funeral was not common at church until the 1940’s. Now lunch is an expected part of the funeral services.

There were parsonage changes throughout the years. The country parsonage needed to be updated and have more space. In 1925, when Mars was pastor, there was discussion on building and it was discussed again in 1928. Pastor Seashore bought a home in Beresford when he came in 1938.  When the Seashores left, the church voted to buy Rev. Fred Nelson’s house.  That house was the parsonage from 1946-1972.  The parsonage was sold and a house was purchased at 201 S. 11th Street  That remains the parsonage, however, it was sold to Pastor Mochel who preferred to own his own home.

Brooklyn Church celebrated its Diamond Jubilee June 2-9, 1957.  Phillip Thorn was pastor.

Each night of the Jubilee a certain group was in charge of the program.

~Monday, Men’s Fellowship—Rev. Wallace Johnson, speaker

~Tuesday, Choir might—Rev. Glen Nelson, speaker

~Wednesday, WMS, Homecoming Day—Rev. Clifford Anderson, speaker

~Thursday, FCYF—Rev. Ivan Larson, speaker

~Friday, Swedish Service—Rev. Arne Mars, speaker