Taken from the Sesquicentennial booklet published in 1988 by First United Church of Christ in New Knoxville (Now First Church of New Knoxville).
Abraham Schneck served First Church as pastor, 1890-1891. He came from an established city church in Louisville, Kentucky and was recognized as one of the outstanding ministers in the entire Reformed Church in the United States. He was a person of unusual ability, aggressive, with strong convictions; he was personable by nature, and expressed a high sense of spiritual zeal. In his brief ministry he introduced the use of the German Reformed Hymnal.* Misunderstandings and dissension developed. A committee favorable to Pastor Schenck approached him to organize a new congregation and be the pastor. One third of the congregation of First Church joined in this new venture in 1891, calling it Emmanuel Lutheran Church. At the beginning the new Congregation worshiped in the then Methodist Church on Sunday afternoons. Soon this new congregation built its own brick church edifice at Main and German streets, dedicating it in November 1891. In 1892 a parsonage was built on the corner of Main Street and Botkins Road which is still used as a dwelling today.
Emmanuel Church also established a one-acre cemetery** in 1892 as the Evangelical Protestant Cemetery which is still used today and is located immediately south of New Knoxville and across from the present Hoge Lumber Company. Pastor Schneck continued with the congregation till 1893 and then accepted a call to be the pastor of Bethany Church, Detroit, Michigan.*** Following Pastor Schenck’s brief ministry he was succeeded by a Pastor Mathis who was the last minister before the congregation decided to disband in early 1895.
In the meantime, First Church had built its new church building, 1893-1894, dedicating it on August 26, 1894. On this dedication day, Emmanuel congregation had no worship service but attended the dedication services at First Church. This no doubt was an appropriate prelude to Emmanuel Church’s decision to disband and “return home” to First Church. All members of Emmanuel Church returned to First Church with the exception of two families who chose to unite with the Methodist Church.
Later, May 29, 1899 the Methodist congregation acquired the Emanuel church building**** and used it until she built her new church in 1916.
The 40 foot by 80 foot Emmanuel Church building was located in the northwest corner of the intersection of Main Street and German Street. It was erected in 1891 and served the Emmanuel congregation until 1894. In 1899 it was purchased by the Methodist congregation and used by them until 1916, when it was razed and replaced by the current Methodist church building. The old Methodist building located one block to the west is visible in the background.
*First Church had used a United hymnal (Reformed & Lutheran) and Psalter.
**At this time each congregation had its own cemetery.
***An interesting letter of 1895 by Pastor Schneck, when in Detroit, was sent to a member of the New Knoxville community.
****After the congregation disbanded and till 1899, the church building had been used as a store house.
Note: The address of the former Emmanuel parsonage is 502 South Main Street.