Immanuel Lutheran
Church's History

 

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care." Psalm 94:1-2, 6-7.

 

Indeed we, as God's children, have much to celebrate and many reasons to gather in worship with our friends and family. Immanuel Lutheran Church and School have been blessed many times over. Through His grace, Immanuel's congregation has grown from nine charter members in 1862 to 1200 members in 2002, with an additional 240 children attending the Christian day school. This house of worship has witnessed many acts of faith and love to become the gathering place of praise and worship as we now know it.

Our Lutheran heritage can be traced back to the late 1800s when German immigrants gathered for Christian worship in private homes, leading to the organization of the "German Protestant" church. These immigrants commonly gathered without a special denomination affiliation. But as a result of differing interpretations of the Bible, members with leanings toward the teachings of the Lutheran church expressed concern about the way their children were being raised. In 1859, a need to preserve the Lutheran heritage led members to request the services of Pastor H. Ottmann, Missouri Synod pastor in New Melle. Organized the next year as Christ Lutheran Church, members called the Rev. J. H. Doermann as their pastor. Due to an ailment that developed, candidate Wilhelm Matuschka was called to assist Doermann. In October 1861, Pastor Matuschka officially conducted worship services in neighboring Washington.

Soon after a vacancy in the German Protestant Church in Washington opened, Pastor Matuschka took charge of the services there. However, most people turned away because they disagreed with the Lutheran teaching and practice represented by Pastor Matuschka. It was at this time that members strong in the Lutheran faith met, on the request of Pastor Matuschka, to consider withdrawing and founding their own Lutheran congregation.

It was at this meeting, on April 21, 1862, the nine members present organized as the Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Congregation, Unaltered Augburg Confession, calling Pastor Matuschka as its shepherd. The new 50-member congregation held its first Sunday afternoon worship services at the Presbyterian Church. Later, arrangements were made at the Methodist Church to worship in the mornings. After continuous growth though, Immanuel began to plan its own house of worship. A lot was purchased on the south side of Fifth Street, between Elm and Lafayette streets. With the help of neighboring congregations at St. Charles, New Melle, Augusta, Port Hudson, and Boeuf Creek, a 24' x 40' brick church was erected. On January 18, 1863, it was dedicated to the glory of God. Soon after, a Christian day school opened with 15 children and Pastor Matuschka serving as teacher.

In the fall of 1863, Pastor Matuschka accepted a call from St. Paul, New Melle. On July 6, 1865, candidate F. Kleist was ordained and installed as the congregation's new pastor. In 1868, a brick parsonage was added behind the church, and in 1870, the congregation purchased land two miles south of Washington along Highway A for a cemetery.

After one year of worship, the congregation grew to 64 members; after five years, to 150 members; and by the end of the 15th year, to approximately 350 members. With the increasing numbers, it became clear that the congregation would have to expand its church facilities. At this time, the Rev. A. G. Grimm was installed as pastor, replacing Pastor Kleist who had accepted a call to Germany.

On October 16, 1881, a bid for the new church building was let to Mr. Degen for $7,614, not including the steeple, dome, cross, or lightning rod. A bell was purchased for $360, with the help of the youth organization that had collected $150 for the bell. Estimated costs for the altar, pulpit, and vestry were about $200. The new building was placed on a plot of ground that had been acquired just west of the original church site. The new house of worship measured 72' x 38', with eight 23'pillars, a 32' dome, and 125' steeple. A 1200-pound bell was installed in the steeple, bringing the overall cost to $9,000. On November 26, 1882, the new house of worship was dedicated to the service of the Triune God. The old church building served as the school.

In 1903 and 1907, the church property was enlarged by the purchase of three lots adjoining the south side of the property and a 10' wide driveway to Elm Street. In 1939, a new parsonage was constructed on the east side of the church property. As the school continued to grow, causing the need for more room, Immanuel purchased more land adjoining the church property. On November 29, 1959, groundbreaking services were held for the new school addition, which was 58' x 153 1/3', located south and east of the original school erected in 1939.

Before Immanuel's additions in 1997, the church went through many changes. In 1894, the Ladies Aid installed electric lights in the church, in addition to the purchase of new carpet in 1906. In 1912, the altar and pulpit were replaced with the same altar and pulpit still in use today. The present Ascension Scene above the altar is a repainting done by Anton Jacobs, a past member. In 1963, the purchase and installation of the balcony and an addition of a new two-manual Wicks pipe organ were added.

In 1979, major renovations were done to the church and school, where a tunnel was dug connecting the two buildings underground. On the first floor above the basement, a pastor's office and the Altar Guild room were constructed.

Most recently, the 1997 additions connected the 1882 sanctuary with the 1939 school building. The new construction made the entire facility handicap accessible. Other additions included new offices added for staff, bathrooms accessible from the church, seven new classrooms for the school, a beautiful narthex, and air conditioning in the entire facility excluding the school gymnasium.

In recent years, Immanuel has seen a great deal of growth. In the last five years, the congregation has witnessed 114 transfers from other LCMS congregations, 73 adults confirmed into the Lutheran faith, 76 children baptized, and 70 junior confirmands. In addition, our worship attendance has increased from an average of 364 per weekend to our current 445 per weekend in the last five years.

It is through the grace of God that Immanuel has grown in worship and faith. Today's congregation stands as proof of the Lord's love and the amazing feats that can be accomplished through the faith in our Lord and Savior.

 

Pastors who have served Immanuel with the Grace of God in Word and Sacrament:
W. Matuschka F. Kleist A. G. Grimm E. T. Richter A. H. Gassner Daniel Oberdieck Cuthbert Pauluhn Alfred Rodewald Richard Loesche Gerald Pundt Karl Fuhlbrigge Arthur Square Duane Feldmann Mark Bangert Joel Schultz	1862 ­ 1863 1865 ­ 1880 1880 ­ 1887 1888 ­ 1911 1911 ­ 1934 1934 ­ 1960 1960 ­ 1964 1965 ­ 1973 1974 ­ 1981 1981 ­ 1985 1983 1983 ­ 1986 1986 ­ 1991 1992 - 2000 -

 

For More Info Contact the School: (636) 239-1636

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