Emmanuel Lutheran Church (1867)

Lutheran congregation (LCMS) of the west end · founded 26 July 1867 · 917 West Jefferson Boulevard · active, November 2026

Founding: Emmanuel is St. Paul's first daughter, made by division: in 1867, with Fort Wayne's population nearly doubling in seven years, St. Paul's split itself along Harrison Street. The 211 voting members east of Harrison stayed; the 196 west of it became the new congregation, officially founded on 26 July 1867, with the Rev. Wolfgang Stubnatzy — St. Paul's assistant pastor since 1861 — as its pastor. The name was debated in earnest (West End and River's Edge were among the candidates, by the congregation's own telling) and settled as Emmanuel, God with us. Two datings stand in the record: the congregation's anniversary account gives the founding day as 26 July 1867, while Bertram's history of St. Paul's dates the resolution to divide to 1868 and spells the daughter's name Immanuel. Both are printed as they stand.

Building line: The congregation's sanctuary was first dedicated in 1869 and stands at 917 West Jefferson Boulevard among the oldest church buildings in Allen County. After a restoration of nearly two years, the restored sanctuary was dedicated in November 2016, on the eve of the congregation's 150th year.

Present state: Active in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, with about 2,200 members at its restoration in 2016; its senior pastor is the Rev. Thomas A. Eggold, from whose anniversary account the founding narrative above is taken. The Sentinel's 1904 roster captions its photograph already: "Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Rev. William Moll, pastor."

Sources:

1. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, "I Love to Tell the Story: A Story of God with Us," the Rev. Thomas A. Eggold, 5 October 2025 (the division of St. Paul's; the founding day; the naming).
2. Bertram, A Brief History of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1837–1962 (the division resolved 1868; "Immanuel"; Stubnatzy).
3. The Fort Wayne Lutheran, vol. 47, no. 11, November 2016 (the restored sanctuary; the 1869 dedication; membership).
4. Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana, church list: "Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Wayne Township, 1867, active."