Immanuel Lutheran Church of Lebanon was the first Lutheran congregation in Dodge and Jefferson counties. As such, it occupies a unique position in the history of Lebanon, Emmet, Ixonia, and Watertown. Virtually every Lutheran congregation in the area, along with First Baptist Church in Watertown, traces its origins to Immanuel. One of the congregation’s Anniversary Events is an historical reflection on Sunday, March 24th at 2pm in the gym located at N572 Co Rd R, Watertown, WI 53098 (6 miles east of Watertown). Light refreshments will be served.

Local historian, Charles E. “Chuck” Werth will offer an illustrated presentation entitled: Immanuel as Mother Church: The Genealogy of Lebanon’s Congregations. Chuck will define and illustrate Immanuel’s pivotal role in shaping the religious history of this area.

Werth, who now lives in Milwaukee, continues to serve as unofficial town historian for Lebanon, is curator of the Lebanon Historical Society’s Museum and Karl Greve Log Cabin, and directs the Staerk Media Center. He maintains an office in the Lebanon Town Hall/Fire Station complex. He is a frequent presenter for the Society and maintains the Society’s Facebook page and Blog.

Descended from pioneer families—Werth, Schoenike, Uttech, Krueger, Braasch, and Tanke/Lehmann—Chuck has researched and published many articles for local publications and scholarly journals on Lebanon’s unique place in the linguistic, cultural, and theological controversies between Pomeranians and Oderbrüchers. He continues to work on a book entitled: From Cult to Community: The Emerging History of Lebanon, Wisconsin.