Celebrating 200 Years

Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church has a long and illustrious history in our community. In 2023, we are proud to be celebrating our 200th Anniversary.

In the early years, the congregation's members met in various homes of the Dutch Settlement neighborhood, a site about a mile north of the present-day hamlet of Clay. Many early settlers of this region had migrated to the wilderness of upstate from the Hudson River area.

The congregation was incorporated in 1833 and began worshiping in the newly erected building on VerPlank Road. The original name, Immanuel's Lutheran Church of the Town of Clay, was later made legal as Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church of Clay, New York.

The building on VerPlank Road was maintained until 1915, when it was taken down. A new church was then built on the present site along Route 31. During the interim, services were held in a social room of the Weller building next to the railroad tracks. In addition to housing Lambert and Mary Weller, this building was home to a grocery store and the local post office.

The present church building was dedicated in 1916. News stories recount 200 people crammed into the new building while many more gathered outside. In the 1960s, the youngest Weller daughter, Cora, gave the Weller structure and its land to the church. Shortly afterward, this building was razed to make room for a large parking lot.

Meanwhile, the congregation was planning better facilities to house the Sunday Church School. In 1968 ground was broken for the new wing. In time, this addition would be named the Kisselburgh Education Building in honor of Pastor John Kisselburgh, whose faithful service to the congregation of Immanuel exceeded four decades.

Today the Kisselburgh Building, still called the new wing by some, is an invaluable resource that houses not only our Sunday School but also many community meetings and activities. It is used every day of the week.

Over the years, Immanuel's congregation has expanded, and, at times, it has waned. It has known years when it couldn't support a full-time pastor, and now, it has been able to maintain a permanent pastor for many years. Through hard times and abundance, Immanuel has survived. With lay people inspired by God's Word, the congregation will continue to serve here in the northern part of Onondaga County for many years to come. Today, Immanuel boasts an active Sunday Church School, a food pantry, weekly Bible study and Confirmation class.