Woman’s Memorial Lutheran Church on English Street
Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church is a congregation of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
In 1907, Lutherans in High Point petitioned the NC Synod for assistance in calling a pastor and building a place of worship. Worship services began meeting at the Old Opera House until the congregation could be formally organized, and a building could be built. The following year, on February 16, 1908, Woman’s Memorial Lutheran Church was organized because the “Woman’s Home and Foreign Mission Society” of the NC Synod provided the initial funding. The first worship services were held at the new building at English Street on March 29, 1909.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church on N. Main Street
Due to industrial development, the congregation began looking for a new location and began the work to move to N. Main St. The congregation’s name was changed to “Emmanuel,” meaning “God-with-us,” as the Woman’s Society had asked the congregation to consider changing the name. The first worship service at the new building was on July 3, 1921. In the early 1960’s, Emmanuel helped start two new mission congregations in the High Point area: St. Michael’s at the northern part of High Point and New Covenant in Archdale. St. Michael’s is still a part of the church in High Point today.
As the city of High Point grew and the current church building aged, it was determined that another move was necessary. On July 11, 1982, Emmanuel Lutheran Church moved from its location on North Main Street to its present setting on Heathcliff Road. With the new building came further possibilities, and the congregation helped form the Emmanuel Senior Enrichment Center, an adult day care program providing care and enrichment for aging adults and adults with various disabilities.
In 2019, after a period of discernment and education, Emmanuel voted on September 8, 2019, to become a “Reconciling in Christ” congregation in partnership with “Reconciling Works: Lutherans for Full Participation.” This is an official designation of Emmanuel’s welcome to all, especially persons of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Emmanuel’s history is full of faith formation and fellowship, evolving worship, hospitality of refugees, feeding the hungry, supporting education, and so much more. We are thankful for over 200 years of ministry in High Point and look forward to many more!
