Immanuel Lutheran Chapel (Saint Louis, Missouri) Records

Immanuel Lutheran Chapel is a continuation of Immanuel Lutheran Church. Immanuel began as a school for Lutherans on the near northside of Saint Louis in 1844. It was a branch of the first Lutheran church - Old Trinity. By 1847, a new church seating 700 at 11th and Franklin (now Martin Luther King Drive) was built. Rev. C.F.W. Walther was head pastor of both churches with Rev. J.F. Buenger as Immanuel's first pastor. Zion Lutheran and Holy Cross Lutheran Churches were started and came under Walther's supervision also. This association of four congregations under Walther was known as the Gesamtgemeinde.

On December 9, 1865, fire destroyed the building except for the basement. A larger church was erected on 15th and Morgan (Now Delmar) streets. It was completed and dedicated on March 22-23, 1868. The church seated 1500 and included a four-room school. Immanuel's school wound up closing in 1917. In 1919, Immanuel's congregation voted to start a mission in another part of the city. A new church was built on the same block as Western Lutheran Cemetery, Lexington and Marcus, in northwest Saint Louis. This building was dedicated on July 25, 1920 after a farewell service took place at 15th and Morgan Streets on July 18, 1920. The cornerstone for another church structure was laid on November 13, 1927.

In 1955 studies began with the vision of starting a dual congregation program. The site for Immanuel Lutheran Chapel was purchased in 1956 at 11100 Old Halls Ferry Road. Groundbreaking for the building was held on February 23, 1958, the cornerstone was laid on May 18, and the chapel and 3-room school was dedicated on October 19, 1958. Immanuel's school eventually closed in 1972, transferring 40 students to Grace Chapel Lutheran School in Bellefontaine-Neighbors. Over the next 18 months, 500 members transferred to Chapel of the Cross and Grace Chapel.

Immanuel Lutheran Chapel celebrated its 25th anniversary on October 19, 1983. A new daycare center was begun in 1983 as well. In 1984, the church reached a low of 110 souls with average worship attendance of 30. The first full-time pastor in 11 years, Rev. Richard Moore, was installed in 1985 and by 1988, church membership reached 204, averaging 90 in worship. A new organ and a well-lit sign were purchased, the size of the parking lot was doubled, and pews and carpeting were added to the sanctuary, all making Immanuel Chapel more inviting and welcoming. In 1992, the congregation voted to build a gymnasium, new office space, and a well-supplied kitchen. Immanuel broke ground in 1997 and dedicated these new additions in 2000. The closing service for Immanuel Lutheran Chapel took place on July 10, 2022.