(Taken from the 1993 Sesquicentennial Booklet)
(Dates are from other sources.)
The gradual increase in the quality of the buildings of this congregation indicates the continued spiritual devotion and the increased material welfare of the community.
In the few months after the establishment of this congregation, a log church was built on the southwest corner of the lot located at St. Marys and Bremen Streets.
Soon after this, on May 7, 1845, a new lot was donated to the church by Mr. and Mrs. E. Brown. This was used exclusively as a cemetery for nearly twenty years. The site was then chosen as the location for a new frame church which was built in 1864, under the pastorate of Rev. William Ekermeyer. Here the congregation worshiped and studied the Word of God for nearly twenty-five years.
In 1899, the church purchased a house of worship from the Reformed congregation located at the northeast corner of Main and German Streets. Here the Methodists worshiped for nearly twenty years.
Then in 1916, during the pastorate of Rev. Paul L. Philipp, the congregation built, some of it by their own hands, the church building in which we worship today.
Meanwhile, in 1861, under the pastorate of Rev. J. Gabler, the congregation purchased twenty acres of land on Spring Street, and there built the first frame parsonage, so that their pastors might have a comfortable home, and an ample amount of land for gardening or farming.
This building remained for thirty-eight years when, in 1899, at the close of the pastorate of Rev. Max Dieterle, it was torn down and replaced by a modern brick house, which was finished at the beginning of the pastorate of Rev. C. E. Buerkle. Over the years, pastors felt less need for such a large tract of land. Thus, most of the land was sold, leaving only one acre left for the church trustees and pastors to maintain.
In 1978, during the pastorate of Rev. Jon Barker, the parsonage was sold and a home purchased at 106 East Spring Street. This is the parsonage used today by the clergy family appointed to New Knoxville.
The frame church used from 1864 to 1890 is visible in the background. In the foreground is the former Emmanuel Church, into which the Methodists moved in the 1890’s, and which was demolished in 1916 for the new building currently being used.
The current church building of 1917, of which some of the work was done by members of the congregation.
The brick parsonage of 1899 located at 321 East Spring Street.