History of Immanuel United Church of Christ:
Walworth Immanuel United Church of Christ began as Immanuel
Evangelical Church (later Immanuel Methodist) which was founded in 1882 on the
corner of Beloit and Fremont Streets, and Walworth Congregational Church.
Walworth Congregational began in 1890 when a group of people made arrangements
to hold English services on Sunday afternoons at the town hall on the corner of
North Main and Kenosha Streets.
At the annual meeting Dec. 16, 1902, it was voted to build a church. The
cornerstone for Walworth Congregational was laid on Oct. 27, 1903. The church
building was completed at a cost of $5,000 and dedicated on April 23, 1904. At
the time of the dedication, the church had a Sunday school membership of 100 and
church membership of 60.
In 1927, feeling a need for a building to provide recreational activities, a 40
foot square gymnasium was added to the back of the church for $8,000. This was
rented to the Walworth Public School for basketball games and other activities;
and was used by the entire community.
The church continued to grow in the era of 1940 – 1950; having outgrown the need
for the gymnasium and needing more Sunday School space, plans were carried out
to put a floor in the top part of the gym and add partitions to provide separate
rooms.
The church grew and prospered until May of 1955 when it was decided to demolish
the old one and build a new one not to exceed $40,000. The decision was
prompted, in part, by the wind damage to the old church, plus it was found the
south walls had been weakened and evidence seemed to indicate this damage was
caused many years before by a slight earth tremor.
While the new church was being constructed, services were held in the
multi-purpose room of the Walworth Grade School and Sunday School held in
various members’ homes.
The cornerstone was laid on February 12, 1956 and donations given included the
lectern, landscaping, and the cross on the altar. The new sanctuary was planned
to provide an entrance on the northeast corner and to allow steps on the inside,
rather than the outside, and pews allowing for a capacity of 192.
In 1970 the Immanuel United Methodist (formerly Evangelical United Brethren) and
Walworth Congregational Church merged to become Immanuel United Church of Christ
which is what it is known as today. The congregation is quite diverse and
includes members who came from a variety of religious affiliations.
