The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ham Lake was founded in 1872 on land donated by Johan and Fredrika Magnuson shortly after their daughters Alida and Emilia died of typhoid fever and the need for a cemetery was realized. Originally buried in the family's front yard, the two coffins were moved when the church was completed and became the first graves in the cemetery. In its early years there were no local pastors, so whenever families wanted to hold a service, someone had to travel to Anoka to bring a pastor back. Over time the church expanded and required new buildings, and despite its now limited use, the Old Church remains an important part of the history of Our Saviours Lutheran Church.