The beginning of the movement towards establishing a Lutheran church on the basis of the synodical conference, in Murphysboro, was made in the fall of 1895. The first service was held by Rev. Dorn of Belleville, Ill., in the Free Will Baptist church, at that time located on corner of 14th and Poplar streets. After the initial service was held by Rev Dorn, ministers and students from St. Louis and Springfield, Ill., presided over services in Murphysboro under Rev Dorn’s guidance. Rev Dorn accepted a call to Fort Wayne, Ind., and turned this supervision over to Rev. Carl STRASERN at that time located in Chester, Ill. On March 21, 1897, six men adopted the constitution, officially forming the church. They are as follows:
August WAGNER
Henry E. DODD
W. H. MICHAEL
Henry KIEL
Jesse HODGE
Urias T. PARROTT
The following officers were elected:
August WAGNER, Chairman
H. MICHAEL, Secretary and treasurer
Henry KIEL, Trustee
T. PARROTT, Trustee
Shortly thereafter, A resolution was passed to purchase the two lots on Pine street in the Logan addition. At once the work was begun to build a church. A modest 30 x 50 foot frame building was completed in August, 1897 at a cost of $985.50. The church was dedicated to the glory of God, with the Rev. R. BERGEN and C. STRASEN officiating.
Rev. HOLZ of Campbell Hill sheparded the congregation during this period. In September of 1897, Francis Piper, a vicar from the St. Louis seminary, served the congregation, and he immediately opened a parochial school. Rev. Holz preached one Sunday and Student Pieper the next.
In 1899 the congregation extended a call to a candidate from the seminary. Candidate F. H. MELZER received and accepted the call and was installed as the first pastor on Aug. 20, 1899 by Rev. C. HOLST from Campbell Hill. The church continued to prosper and grow and after a service of two years and two months the Rev. Melzer accepted a call to Baldwin, Ill., in October of 1901.
During the vacancy from 1901-1906, the Rev. Holst and Rev. H. SPIERING from Campbell Hill served as vacancy pastors. The vacancy was filled by extending a call to Rev. F. SCHNEIDER then of Babbtown, Mo., who was installed in office October 14, 1906 by the Rev. H. SPIERING from Campbell Hill.
In 1919, additional property was purchased in anticipation of a new church being built. In 1921, a building committee was appointed, and in the summer of 1923 the basement of the new church was constructed and the cornerstone laid. The committee named to serve as the building committee the following members:
W. H. MICHAEL, Chairman
E. ERDMAN, Secretary
Wm. BOESE, Treasurer
Adam ZEIGLER
Otto ZEIGLER
Henry ZEIGLER
Ed BUCK.
The officers of the church that year were:
August D. FICK, Chairman
E. ERDMAN, Secretary
Wm. ZEIGLER, Treasurer
C. ALTHOFF, Collector
W. H. MICHAEL, Deacon
Ed BUCK, Deacon
E. ROWALD, Deacon
Adam ZEIGLER, Trustee
Otto ZEIGLER, Trustee
Rudolph SCHADE, Trustee
The congregation worshiped in the basement until the new church was complete. The new church was dedicated in November of 1930, with a cost of $87,042.19.
The tornado of 1925 did damage to homes of members of the church, as well as the pastor’s residence, located on Elm Street, which was completely destroyed. With help from throughout the Synod, a new parsonage was completed the same year.
On May 9, 1955, ground breaking ceremonies were held for a new Parish Hall, which was dedicated in March of 1956 at a cost of $76,000. In 1957, a move was made toward a two-room school. Classes were held in the church basement and on the auditorium stage.
While the parochial school had its beginning along with the congregation, it wasn’t until June, 1958 that the first principal, Leonard Haertling, was installed. On May 26, 1963, groundbreaking for a new school began. Dedication for the new three-room school was held on Nov. 23, 1964.
On September 29, 1965, fire gutted the sanctuary and the basement and left smoke and water damage throughout the complex of the Parish Hall and school. Through the hard work and dedication of many of the members, the sanctuary was repaired. On July 10, 1966, a service was held for the re-dedication of the restored church.
In October of 1976, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for an addition to the North end of the education facility. The addition was dedicated in August of 1978.
On June 29, 2019 (CHECK DATE) the church broke ground on a new addition to the school. This new addition moved the church office to ground level and added additional classroom space. The addition added security measures to the school, bringing it in line with modern security designs for schools. The $650,000 cost was funded by donations and a fund-raising campaign. Synod President Harrison attended the dedication ceremony which was held January 19, 2020
The congregation of Immanuel Lutheran Church has been blessed by the faithful service of 16 called pastors.. Two pastors of Immanuel Lutheran, Rev. E.H. Bohrer and Rev. W.T. Janzow, served as presidents of the Southern Illinois District and served the calls to Immanuel. Pastors have also served as teachers in the parochial school at various times.
PASTORS:
- Rev. F.W. Melzer – August 20, 1899 – November 1901
- Rev. F.J. Schneider – October 14, 1906 – April 1930
- Rev. E. H. Bohrer – June 15, 1930 – September 1946
- Rev. Paul Boehne – October 6, 1946 – October 15, 1950
- Rev. W. T. Janzow – February 4, 1951 – August 23, 1959
- Rev. W. Kohlmeier – January 24, 1960 – May 31, 1965
- Rev. Don Loesch – September 19, 1965 – March 15, 1972
- Rev. Leslie Weiser – July 16, 1972 – August 2, 1976
- Rev. David Natzke – June 19, 1977 – May 28, 1980
- Rev. Gary Brooks – August 23, 1981 – July 31, 1985
- Rev. William E. Friedrich – October 20, 1985 – June 1995
- Rev. Andrew Moore – September 24, 1995 – July 1999
- Rev. Jonathan Cholcher – August 4, 1996 – July 2000
- Rev. Theodore Mayes – July 22, 2001 – May 2012
- Rev. Josemon Hoem – July 22, 2012 – July 12, 2020
- Rev. Matthew Christian – July 10, 2022 –