This file part of www.dodgejeffgen.com website

Immanuel Methodist

Jefferson

Founded 1845

It was in May 1845, when Wisconsin was still a wilderness, that the Rev. J. G. Miller set out on horseback for Wisconsin to establish churches among the German-speaking people.

Miller's trip marked the beginning of Jefferson's more than 150-year-old Methodist church. He arrived in Jefferson on May 20, gave his first sermon July 13 and then returned to Jefferson in September to preach his second, entitled "The Last Supper. The people were now ready to organize a church.

They elected officers and agreed to meet in members' homes. In three years, the congregation had grown to 50 and it was decided the time had come to build a church. The members built a 32-by-40-foot wooden structure heated by two wood stoves and lighted by kerosene lamps at the corner of Racine and Center streets.

At that time, the congregation had a church but no full-time minister. Most ministers served several churches in the area they were assigned.

"When the church first started, circuit riders came around to as many as 10 churches. Even at the turn of the century, Helenville and Rome were still part of our church circuit, so our ministers traveled to three churches every Sunday." -- Lydia Goerz, church historian

By 1878, membership had more than doubled and Immanuel had outgrown its simple quarters. The wooden structure was moved and members built the brick church that stands yet today on that very same corner. Bishop Dubs officiated at the dedication Dec. 7, 1879.

At that time, a tall, graceful spire topped Immanuel Methodist, and people walked up 12 steps to enter the church at Racine Street entrance. The altar stood at the opposite end of the church that it does now.

The congregation steadily grew and the building had to be expanded to make room. In 1914, workers dug a basement beneath the church to house Sunday School classes.

In 1916, lightning struck the tall steeple, which on Oct. 9,1916, was taken down. The congregation decided not to rebuild the steeple; rather, it built a belfry, giving the church a look similar to today's.

Reference: Jefferson County Union article of 01 11 1995 by Ronnie L. Paynter