Saga Íslendinga í Vesturheimi Vol. V says this of Reverend Magnús pgs. 69-70:
“Reverend Magnús J. Skaptason was born on February 4, 1850, and his parents were doctor Jósep Skaptason at Hnausa and his wife, Anna Margrét, daughter of Björn Ólsen, an agent at Þingeyri. Magnús graduated from the Icelandic Seminary in 1874 and was ordained a priest the following year. The last time he was in Iceland was at Hvammi in Laxárdal, from where he emigrated and moved to New Iceland in 1887. He served the Lutheran congregations there until 1891, when he began to turn against various teachings of the Lutheran Church. Four of his congregations withdrew from the Lutheran synod, and then he and his followers founded a new synod, which lasted for a short time. During these years, there was a lot of debate in the communities about Reverend Magnús. He served the Unitarian Congregation in Winnipeg 1894-1899, then he moved to Minnesota. A little later he reappeared back in Winnipeg.”
When Reverend Magnús came to Manitoba and settled in New Iceland, the Lutheran congregation Sameiningin welcomed his arrival and welcomed him to serve the congregations in New Iceland. These congregations were in Víðirnes, Gimli, Árnes, Hnausa, Fljóts settlement, and Hekla. Halldór Briem had served these congregations until 1881, after which there was no service in New Iceland. But with Reverend Jón Bjarnason’s return from Iceland in 1884, life came back to the congregations of New Iceland, i.e. Bræðrasafnúður (Brothers congregation) in the Fljóts (Icelandic River) settlement built a house in 1885 on the east bank of the Íslendingafljót (Iceladic River) and named it Safnaðarhús (home of congregation). Immigrants from Iceland and from various settlements in Canada and the United States were poor, so there was no attempt to find a pastor. Instead, the readings of Holy Scripture in homes was practiced. In the spring of 1887, the Brotherhood approached Reverend Magnús and he took a call. His arrival in New Iceland inspired congregations in New Iceland, Breðrasafnúði came more active, facilities in the congregation house were improved, e.g. new benches were installed and an organ purchased by the Ladies Aid was installed. In 1888 there was talk of building a new church and in 1889 of selling the meeting house. In 1890, the congregation undertook the task of holding a synod, which was attended by 60 people from most of the Icelandic settlements in the province. Reverend Magnús undoubtedly had a great part in this enthusiasm of the Brethren, but he ended his stay there very unexpectedly in 1891 when he resigned from the Lutheran church association, became opposed to its teachings and turned to Unitarianism.