top of page

Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship 4pm & 9pm Dec. 24th | Christmas Day Worship 10am Dec. 25th. Christmas Blessings from Immanuel Danbury.

Immanuel Danbury History

Lutheran Church & School

Immanuel was founded in 1881, over 600 baptized members have been welcomed into Immanuel Danbury. We are part of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, which serves as an adviser and supporter in our local, national, and world ministries.

Immanuel's history dates back to December 9, 1877, when the first Lutheran services were held in Danbury by the Rev. C.V. Stutz for a group originating in Rondout, New York. On January 23, 1881, 22 men organized the "German Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church U.A.C. (Unaltered Augsburg Confession) of Danbury, Connecticut", now known as Immanuel Lutheran Church.

We are to this day indebted to the founding fathers for their dedication and foresight. Their first effort as a Christian congregation was that of opening a Christian Day School. This was done in 1881 on Patch Street. In 1882, however, land was purchased on Foster Street, and on this land a church, school and parsonage were soon built. Land on Tamarack Avenue was purchased in 1903 for a cemetery.

Although the second school building on Foster Street, as well as the church, were virtually destroyed by fire in the spring of 1929, the school was rebuilt by members by late fall of that year and was occupied until demolished to make room for the Foster Street school dedicated on August 25, 1957.

The original church building on Foster Street was in use until November 20, 1910. The West Street church building, built in 1865, as a Second Congregational Church, was purchased by the Immanuel congregation and dedicated as a Lutheran church on November 27, 1910.

The original 1876 Johnson organ in the church was played at church services by Pulitzer Prize composer and musician Charles Ives,for a short time starting in February 1889. The present Janssen Memorial Organ was built by the Moller Organ Company and dedicated on May 27, 1973. Many of the original Johnson organ pipes were used in the building of the new organ.

On July 16, 2005, the church and school moved to their current location at 18 Clapboard Ridge Road.
 
 

Immanuel's Pastors

Over time many devoted men have led the members of Immanuel Danbury in her mission to spread the good news of Jesus and equip disciples to aide in spreading the joy and love of our savior.

Senior Pastors

  • Rev. W.A. Fischer 1881-1900

  • Rev. Edward H. Fischer 1900-1930
    (W.A. Fischer's brother)

  • Rev. Bernard W. Janssen 1930-1960

  • Rev. Hans A. Voss 1960-1986

  • Rev. Richard E. Kuehnert, Jr. 1986-1999

  • Rev. Daniel Wehmeier 1999-2004

  • Rev. Walt J. Harper 2004-2019

  • Rev. Ryan Oakes 2023- Present

Associate Pastors

  • Rev. Donald McGrath 1965-1968

  • Rev. Gregory J. Wismar 1971-1972

  • Rev. Walter J. Warneck 1972-1975

  • Rev. John W. Welge 1977-1985

  • Rev. David Johnson 1989-1991

  • Rev. Daniel Wehmeier 1993-1998

  • Rev. Walt Harper 2000-2004

  • Rev. Joel Cundiff 2009-2016

  • Rev. Christopher Chandler  2017-2021

Daughter Congregations

In the 145 year history of Immanuel Lutheran Church, several congregations were established from her members. As some of her congregation members moved out of town they planted new congregations in surrounding towns.

  • St. Andrew Ridgefield, CT

  • Christ the King Newtown, CT

  • Good Shepherd New Fairfield, CT

  • Trinity Lutheran New Milford, CT

  • Christ the King Pawling, NY

School Principals

Since our founding members established the christian school at Immanuel, we have been blessed with many devoted individuals. These individuals have carried the love and message of Jesus to kids in the Danbury, CT area and their families for over a century!

  • G. Wente 1881-1888

  • Albert H. Miller 1889-1905

  • E.M. Dressler 1906-1937

  • Otto J. Prokopy 1938-1942

  • Edwin C. Grube 1942-1973

  • Robert Sanger 1973-1986

  • Sylvia Person 1986-1989

  • Christine Rowe 1989-2000

  • Walter Harper 2000-2001

  • Katherine Fischer 2001-2003

  • Carla Russell 2003-2004

  • George Tomka 2004-2007

  • Nate Palkewick 2007-2015

  • Victoria Baker 2015- present

bottom of page