The history of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church stretches back at least as far as 1848, when a group of North German Lutherans newly arrived to Terre Haute joined with other Germans in the city to form a joint congregation of Lutheran and Reformed worshipers. This congregation, located on South Fourth Street between Oak and Swan Streets, existed until 1858, when it became clear that both sets of parishioners needed to have their own congregations in order to worship in accordance with their convictions. Thus it was that on July 1, 1858, the Constitution of the Deutsche evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinde zu Terre Haute was signed, marking the birth of our present congregation. The pastors wasted no time in spreading the gospel to the region and were instrumental in establishing Lutheran congregations in other cities as well such as Lafayette, Linton and Vincennes. Immanuel immediately established its own parochial school, and the first church building was erected on the corner of Fourth and Swan. This building served the congregation until 1885, when our current church structure was built, and in 1908 we celebrated our first 50 years, under the pastoral care at that time of the Reverend Henry Katt. The Reverend Arthur Katt succeeded his father upon the latter’s death in 1918 and served over a period of significant change. The congregation officially adopted its present name in 1918, and in 1921 the congregation revised its constitution for the first time since 1858. After a three-year hiatus Immanuel’s parochial school, which had been directed by Teacher Fred Rechlin for the last 23 years, re-opened in 1921 under the direction of Martin Braunschweiger. The school closed its doors for the last time after nearly 88 years of existence when Teacher Braunschweiger accepted a call to New York in 1946.

Following the departure of Arthur Katt, the Reverend Frederick C. Jordan served the congregation for 30 years, from 1925 – 1955, followed by Pastors Arnold F. Kluge from 1955 – 1961 and Donald E. Schedler from 1962 – 1971. Immanuel’s current Pastor, The Reverend Philip G. Meyer arrived in 1973 and has faithfully served the congregation now for 35 years. Pastor Meyer’s arrival was accompanied by the opening of the congregation’s new Parish Center, providing additional space for offices and instruction as well as social activities. A new constitution was adopted in 1978, and in that year the congregation established a pre-school program that was to last until 2004. Although two vicars had served the congregation in the early 1950s, Immanuel’s current vicarage program began in earnest in 1987 and has since provided training for 21 young men from the Seminary, earning a reputation as one of the finest programs in the Synod. In the year 2000 the new vicarage was completed, and the last several years have seen considerable activity. In April 2006 Immanuel totally revised its constitution and became incorporated, establishing the new Congregational Assembly and Council of Deacons, along with a new set of boards to more effectively carry on the work of the congregation.