Immanuel Lutheran has a rich heritage, thanks to its congregation’s continuing commitment to share God’s Word and the Good News of Jesus Christ. And it all started with a baptism and a funeral…

1868 — Pastor Henry O. Schmidt, from Dundee, Illinois, passes through Crystal Lake, stopping to perform a baptism and a funeral. These seeds become the roots of Immanuel.

1875 — Pastor Schmidt is installed as Immanuel’s first resident pastor. Recognizing the need for quality Christian education, ground is broken on McHenry Avenue for a 20- by 30-foot school building which will also accommodate worship services.

1877 — A church building is purchased, and moved to the corner of McHenry Avenue and Church Street. A steeple and sacristy are added, and a bell placed in the tower. The bell is rung on Saturday nights to remind the community to attend worship the following morning. (Currently, the bell rings to begin all worship services.)

1890 — Immanuel receives membership in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

1895 — A new church building (the one currently in use) is built and dedicated.

1906 — A four-room brick school building (currently in use) is built.

1954 — Ground is broken for another school unit, containing a gymnasium, a cafeteria and additional classrooms. German-language church services are discontinued. (Services were conducted exclusively in German until 1915, and in German and English until 1954.)

1992 — The church building is renovated.

Today — Immanuel is a growing church dedicated to serving the congregation and the community by sharing God’s Word in worship services and through our actions in service to others.