The New Sweden Congregation was organized on Sunday, February 23, 1876 with 43 charter members: 27 men, 16 women and 24 children. Services were held in homes, school houses and the little stone church at Gregg. These members were concerned about the preaching of the gospel and the administration of the sacraments.

The first church building was completed in 1879, located at the site of the New Sweden Lutheran Cemetary and dedicated without debt. The community was known as Knight's Ranch and the Congregation was named Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, Manor, Travis County, Texas.