Immanuel

ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin

Immanuel Evangelical

Lutheran Church

Corner of Ninth and Jones streets

Originally known as German Evangelical Immanuel's Church

1875 Founded

1889

Fred Merkle baptized at Immanuel on New Year’s Day, 1889. Son of Ernst and Amalia (Thielman) Merkle. Ernst taught at the Immanuel School from 1884-1889.

1905

08 03 The beautiful spire on the Immanuel Lutheran Church on North Ninth Street was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies. Addresses were made by Rev. N. Hahuemann of Farmington, Zimmerman of Johnson Creek and H. Hoerig of Menomonee. It is a very symmetrical and adds much to the beauty of the church. Church spires are always better than police stations for they direct the attention of men upward. WDT

1908

06 11 Convention of WI district of Lutheran Synod of Iowa held at Immanuel WLeader

1956

07 06 Watertown's Immanuel Lutheran Church has named a new pastor. He is the Rev. A. S. Christensen, present pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Reedsburg, Wis. The Rev. Mr. Christensen and his family will come to Watertown on Aug. 1, according to present plans and installation ceremonies are to be announced at a later date WDT

1959

02 25 Special course on the Hebrew Bible; Rev. A. S. Christensen to take part in WDT

06 01 Holy Land, six-week tour; Rev. A. S. Christensen preparing for WDT

06 24 New parsonage plan rejected WDT

1961

02 19 In an impressive ceremony on Sunday evening officers of the newly organized American Lutheran Church Women of the Immanuel Church were installed by the Rev. A.S. Christensen. The newly installed officers are: Mrs. John Gaston, president; Mrs. Harold Schultz, secretary of education; Mrs. Charles Wendt, vice president; Mrs. Stanley Chandler, secretary of stewardship; Mrs. Herman Rohr, secretary, and Mrs. John Ney, treasurer. WDT

10 18 The Watertown Immanuel Lutheran Church, of which the Rev. A. S. Christensen is pastor, completed arrangements for Sunday’s service at which the congregation’s newly announced first assistant pastor is to be installed. The day will mark a milestone in the history of the church, with the welcoming of the assistant pastor. Now in its 86th year, Immanuel Lutheran Church has grown from seven members to over 1,800 baptized members. WDT

1983

10 30 Construction of a school discussed by Watertown Planning Commission WDT

1985

04 08 Rev. Orlo Espeland, pastor, accepted appointment with the American Lutheran Church National Office WDT

1999

06 23 Rev. Richard P. Heins retirement WDT

2000 “Honoring Our Heritage, Forward In Faith” / 125th anniversary theme

01 18 The year-long celebration will begin on Sunday with a special anniversary fair from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Immanuel Church was established in Watertown on Jan. 24, 1875. Originally known as German Evangelical Immanuel's Church of Watertown, the congregation has occupied its current location near Ninth and Jones streets since 1876. At that time, the lot was purchased for $225. Between 1952 and 1954, the original building was razed and the current building constructed. An education and administrative office building was added in 1984. This year, building will continue with an accessibility project designed to create more usable space and a general remodeling of the worship area. WDT

11 03

Watertown Daily Times

Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, corner of Ninth and Jones streets, will formally rededicate its worship area this weekend following a 4 1/2 month interior and exterior construction project. The project included a handicap accessible entrance, new heating and air conditioning systems, and an enlarged balcony.

The pews, altar, pulpit and lectern have been refinished. The chancel area has been thrust out into the sanctuary, enabling congregational members to kneel at the communion rail without having to climb steps.

Immanuel Church has been a leader in service to the community for 125 years.

On Jan. 24, 1875, nine people, eight men and one woman, formed what was then known as the German Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel's Congregation of Watertown and Community. Today the church is known as Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Before the end of 1875, Immanuel's membership had risen to 28 individuals. The group met in homes and then bought a parsonage. They rented the Welsh Church to hold worship services, and the parsonage did double duty as a school house.

The congregation, associated with the Iowa Synod, grew and on Oct. 29, 1876, the first church building was dedicated. This building was much loved by its members. It was a brick church of moderate dimensions. There was a plain altar table and above, like a swallow's nest on the wall, hung the pulpit. To the right and left of the entrance stood the indispensable stoves that stretched their black piles like arms along the ceiling through the entire church.

The first organ was purchased in 1889 and an 18-foot addition with altar niche, sacristy and two side balconies were built. New pews replaced the old.

In 1902, the stoves were replaced by a furnace and kerosene lamps made way for modern gas lights in 1904. In 1905, a tower was built and colored windows took the place of the old plain windows.

The congregation continued to grow and have dreams. Many members still remember scraping and piling old bricks for use in the new church.

The present church building was dedicated on June 13, 1954. It is Gothic in style, and built of Lannon stone. In 1963 the stained glass windows were installed and a Charles Hendrickson pipe organ was installed in 1993.

In 1985, the school house was tom down and an education wing was added.

2000

12 15 After 55 years in the active ministry, the Rev. A. Stanley Christensen, N6294 Sunset Road, Watertown, will retire on Dec. 31. The pastor served at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Watertown for more than 20 years. Christensen graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1944 with a bachelor of science degree in education. In 1946 he received a master's degree in theology from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. He continued his studies in Hebrew at the University and Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. An article he wrote on the Dead Sea Scrolls was published in the Lutheran Encyclopedia. WDT

2009

10 10 “God’s Work, Our Hands” initiative; greater involvement on part of membership and greater capacity for ministry WDT

Click upon to enlarge

School was next to Church, WHS_005_458

Cross-References:

No 1: Immanuel Lutheran Church History, 1875-2000 (pdf file)