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Swedish Christmas tradition “Julotta” continues at Bishop Hill

The public is welcome to attend a non-denominational Christmas morning church service at Bishop Hill’s restored Colony Church at 6:00 a.m. 

The Colony Church was built in 1848 by Swedish immigrants

The Swedish Christmas tradition of “Julotta” is held annually since 1970 in Bishop Hill to reaffirm the community’s Swedish heritage.

The worship service will be led by the Rev. Dan Wright of Greater Annawan Parish.

The readers will be Terri Wigant of Bishop Hill and Adam Cox of Stockholm, Sweden – an exchange student at United High School.

Martha Downey, Superintendent for the Bishop Hill State Historic Site says visitors are encouraged to dress warmly.

Coffee and rusks will be available in the Colony Church Museum after the service.

The community of Bishop Hill, founded by Swedish pioneers in 1846, is located 20 miles south of I-80 and 17 miles east of I-74 in Henry County, Illinois.

Many of the buildings are original, and many of the residents are descendants of the original settlers.

The Colony Church is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

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