Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church

A member of the Augustana Synod founded in 1853, the Swedish Ev. Lutheran Immanuel Congregation originally worshipped with the Lake View Norwegian Lutheran congregation in its building on Superior between LaSalle and Wells, before purchasing it in 1854. The original name of the congregation, the "Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Chicago," was changed to the "Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church of Chicago," after Salem Lutheran was formed in 1868.

A basement was added to the Superior Street building in 1859 and enlarged in 1865, but soon was too small for the congregation. The formation of Salem Lutheran on the South Side reduced the membership, but a new facility was still needed. In 1869 Immanuel moved to the southwest corner of Sedgwick and Hobbie and Gethsemane Lutheran, organized in 1870, took over the Superior Street building.

The new building at Sedgwick and Hobbie was dedicated on November 7, 1870. Both it and the old Superior Street building were destroyed in the Chicago Fire in October 1871. Only the church records were able to be saved from Immanuel. The second building (pictured above), constructed in 1875, was used until 1922. This building was then taken over by a new congregation, Central Lutheran.

In 1918 Immanuel merged with Bethel English Lutheran Church (1909, Augustana Synod) located at Glenwood and Rosedale. The name Immanuel was retained, dropping the word "Swedish" from the name. Lots were purchased at the corner of Elmdale and Greenview Avenues. The new building (pictured below), completed in 1922, at 1500 W. Elmdale, was near the former location of Bethel.

Visit Immanuel's home page at www.immanuelchicago.org

Original records
Ministerial records from 1854 to 1926 are now located at the ELCA Archives, as are membership records from 1854-1966. Later records should be located at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1500 W. Elmdale Ave., Chicago, Ill., 60660-2494. Early records have been microfilmed along with Bethel's records on Augustana #A5. Films are available from the ELCA Archives and from the Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. The records filmed include church minutes from 1854-1930 and membership records from 1855-1926. The ELCA Archives also has congregational histories and other materials relating to Immanuel.

Sources
Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church of Chicago, The Story of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1928.