Immanuel's History: Locations and Journeys Through the Years

While Immanuel Church has stood on the corner of Farmington Avenue at Woodland Street for over 100 years, its history actually spans a period exceeding 175 years.

Immanuel's history is uniquely intertwined with the history and dynamics of four predecessor Hartford churches:

  • North Church 1824-1867
  • Park Church 1867-1914
  • Pearl Street Church 1852-1899
  • Farmington Avenue Church 1899-1914
  • Immanuel Church 1914-present

The North Church once stood at the junction of Main, Village and Morgan Streets in downtown Hartford. Its architecture was typical colonial with an elaborate spire and a clock.

This church will be long remembered for the spiritual contributions made by its third minister — Horace Bushnell. He served the church from 1833 to 1859.

Over time it became evident that it would be prudent for the North Church to relocate from Main Street. The city was growing, businesses were beginning to encroach and members were moving from the center.

In 1867 the church moved westward to the northwest corner of Asylum and High streets where it embraced the name Park Church to reflect its location across the street from Bushnell Park.

The Park Church was erected in 1866-67. It was of a Gothic Style and seated 1,000. The church was dedicated on March 29, 1867 with Horace Bushnell participating in the first service. In its time Park Church was spoken of as "the handsomest structure set apart for divine worship in the city."

Park Church was blessed with great preachers, organists and choir leaders and down through the years the church was exemplary in its strong missionary activities.

After nearly half a century at their park location it was realized that the church was not growing as anticipated.

In the spring of 1914 the Park Church merged with the Farmington Avenue Church (formerly the Pearl Street Church).

The Pearl Street Church was located on the north side of Pearl Street near Main Street and was dedicated in December 1852. The church was a very striking and beautiful structure with its 212 foot spire. It was built to accommodate 1,000 people.

The Pearl Street Church was noted for its varied programs for all its people — it was noted especially for its work with young people, establishing two widows' homes, Sunday school concerts, and Kings Daughters Circles. Many meetings of public interest were held in the church over the years.

Even though the church was strong and its congregation extremely loyal, there was a feeling among the more thoughtful members that the church was not serving a real need where it then stood. Many of the church's families were living in the western part of the city and it was felt that it could be of greater service if it followed the population trend westward. After much deliberation, and with the encouragement of other churches, final approval to move was voted by the church on April 2, 1897. The farewell service was held on July 2, 1899 and thus the Pearl Street Church became the Farmington Avenue Church.

The Farmington Avenue Church

"It was a bold move from Pearl Street to Farmington Avenue at Woodland Street, for in 1899 this section of the city was sparsely settled." -- Stanley B. Weld, Church Historian and author of The History of Immanuel Church 1824-1967.

Plans for the creation of the Farmington Avenue Church went forward very quickly. The ground breaking for the new church took place on May 1, 1898 and the cornerstone was laid on July 2, 1898.

The style of the new church is discussed in some detail on this website (see Architecture).

It was Reverend William DeLoss Love who guided his congregation from Pearl Street to Farmington Avenue. It was through his leadership and a very able planning committee that the move went smoothly. Dr. Love continued to lead the church until April 1910 when he moved on to serve as President of the Connecticut Humane Society. He was a historian, a writer and a recognized authority on New England.

Four years later in 1914 a truly remarkable event took place — the Farmington Avenue Church invited the Park Church and its distinguished minister Dr. Charles F. Carter to unite with them. The merger was a natural coming together of two very strong congregations led by Dr. Carter.

The first sermon following the merger took place on Sunday, April 26, 1914. As the two churches came together the question of a name for the new church was important because it was agreed that each church would give up its former name. Many names were suggested and from them the new name — IMMANUEL ("God With Us") was selected. On July 16, 1914 Immanuel Church was duly incorporated. Thus, in a 90 year period Hartford was witness to the coming together of four great churches that ultimately gave birth to Immanuel Congregational Church.