The Evangelical Church of Newark, NY, now known as Emmanuel United Methodist Church began meeting in private homes in 1858 through 1860 under the leadership of Rev. J. Schaaf and Rev Adolf Miller. The congregation was predominately made up of German families.

In 1864 plans were started to build a house of worship and in December of that year the deed was conveyed as the German Evangelical Association of Arcadia. Materials were gathered from an abandoned church in Marbletown. Men and women alike tore the building down and transported the bricks and materials to build the new church.

There was no music in the church until 1871 when a small organ was purchased.

The first time an annual conference was held in Newark was 1881. In 1886, Miss Elizabeth Bender wed Edwin Frech. The Sunday following their marriage they sat together in church thus ending the segregation of men and women allowing families to sit together in worship. Services were done in German but the new generation in America favored the English language thus forcing the church to conform. The parsonage was completed in 1888.

Because the current church did not meet the needs of the congregation, a new church was built on the site in 1897. Between the years of 1910-22, the first choir was organized and Mrs. Finley Stevens formed the Woman's Aid Society. The purchase of a pipe organ made it necessary to remove the east wall of the building and an alcove was built to house the organ.

Nineteen thirty-six (1936) saw another significant change in the structure of the church. The men of the church began digging a basement, by hand, under the current church. Once the basement was dug, concrete was laid. This task took over one year to complete. The 35-year-old pipe organ was replaced in 1955 other than the pipes from the previous organ.

Rev. Derk proposed plans for a new $50,000 educational wing, which was built and dedicated in 1968. This wing included church offices, classrooms and a pastor's study. The mortgage for the new wing was burned in 1976. Also, in 1968 the union of the Evangelical United Brethren

Emmanuel United Methodist Church
301 East Miller Street
Newark, New York 14513
(315) 331 - 8755

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