Swedenborg Chapel: About us.

Church Life - About Us

Our Society

Our Society (another word for “congregation”) is over century old. The sanctuary was built as a chapel for the Swedenborgian Church’s denominational theological school, which was located adjacent to the chapel until the 1960s, when it moved. At that time, the theological school built an addition onto the side of the chapel for the congregation’s use as a parish wing. Only in 2004 did the Cambridge Society manage to finally purchase the building from the theological school, with the assistance of the larger state organization.

Our Pastor (more information)

The Reverend Kevin K. Baxter was born while his father was in theological school and was also serving as the Swedenborg Chapel organist; hence, the very first worship service he attended was in our chapel. As the son of a Swedenborgian minister, he had the opportunity to grow up in several different Swedenborgian Churches.

After graduating from Urbana University, a college founded by Swedenborgians, Rev. Baxter attended the Swedenborgian House of Studies at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. Having received a certificate in Swedenborgian Studies (from SHS) and a Master of Divinity Degree (from PSR), he returned to Urbana University as a part-time preacher, adjunct faculty member, chaplain, and administrator.

In 2006, the Rev. Baxter accepted a call from the Cambridge Society to be their ninth pastor.

Our Denomination

The Swedenborgian Church, originally founded as the General Convention of the Church of the New Jerusalem, was founded about 200 years ago by various groups of people, primarily Anglicans and Methodists by upbringing, who had been reading the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. Over the years, a variety of congregations formed, with their members coming from a variety of Christian traditions (Anglican, Mennonite, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, and so on). This diversity has given our denomination a wonderful mixture of worship traditions that vary from society to society.

To find out more, visit: www.swedenborg.org

Emanuel Swedenborg

An 18th-century mystic, scientist, and theologian, Emanuel Swedenborg at the age of 55 directed his life toward religious and spiritual writings. A devout follower of Christ, Swedenborg turned his life from business and worldly pursuits to the revelation of spiritual truths. Neither desiring nor anticipating the formation of a new Christian denomination, he published his books for the people of the world to read and apply to their own faith journeys. He is truly one of the most interesting figures of the Enlightenment. To learn more, stop by the chapel, or visit the website of the Swedenborg Foundation: www.swedenborg.com