The church in has always been important to families in the Knox area.  Emmanuel Lutheran Church has been no different, having survived many church reforms.  

Emmanuel is an offspring of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Beaver Township, which was founded by German settlers in 1813 in Wentlings Corners, Beaver Township.  The church thrived until about 1842 when the Rev. George Fredrick Ehrenhfeld and his ultra aggressive theological teachings forced the church to divide.

About 1/3 of St. Paul’s congregation decided to leave and start their own church in Beaver City a small but growing oil town. The new congregation elected three trustees and two elders. Pastor Ehrenhfeld left St. Paul’s and came to Emmanuel, laying the cornerstone of the church on May 16, 1842.  It was built on 2 acres and had a cemetery that was in use for 50 years. The new church was made out of wood and stood until 1876 when it was decided to build a new church. In 1877 the oil boom hit Beaver City and the church allowed for one oil well that brought in $3,000 dollars a month for 18 months.  With the royalties the new stone church was built. 

Construction on the new church started on July 1,1877.  The dimensions were 33 by 66 feet and the total cost was $ 6,000.  The stone church was opened on October 7,1877.  

Around the turn of the century the oil boom passed through Beaver City and the church decided to relocate to Knox. 

The third church cornerstone was laid in Knox on September 1, 1889, it and the church opened on February 18, 1890. The cost was a mere $2,000 dollars because it was built out of the old church.  The church served 25 years until the fourth church was built out of brick.  The first brick was laid on September 10, 1916 and was finished on June 3, 1917 at a cost of $11,000.  This building still stands today and is used every Sunday.  

Throughout its history Emmanuel had prospered eventually formed a parish with Holy Trinity and Salem Lutheran.  During the World War Two years the church served as a Red Cross blood drive center.  

In 1989 a new pastor moved into Emmanuel, which had been without a pastor since 1985. She noticed the east wall of the church was crumbing.  The church had a choice to close it doors or to rebuild and hope for a rebirth of attendance. The second option was selected and attendance rose. Today the church has passed the 160-year mark of worshiping and is in a co-op with Holy Trinity and Edenburg Presbyterian Church in Knox. Every Tuesday on local cable the past Sunday’s service can been seen.

Works Cited.
Switzer, Ray. Memories, History of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 1988.

All Photos courtesy of Emmanuel Lutheran Church