On November 11, 1893, the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Emanuel Church of the old Augustana Synod was organized. This resulted when a small devoted group of Scandinavians, who had come primarily from Sweden, settled in Pleasantville and felt the need to meet and have religious services. They met in a meeting hall over a grocery store known as Washburn’s, located next to the old train station. During this first year, 32 services were held and 3 infants baptized. 

The first congregational meeting was held December 26, 1894.  Alfred Larson was elected chairman. The income for the first year was  $421 and expenses were $333. Balance in the account at this first meeting was $88.

During 1895, the group held 38 services and baptized 7 infants. They paid J.C. Westglund the sum of $153.50 as their “preacher.” About the same time, Mrs. Earle promised that if the Swedes would build a church, she would donate the lot. A mortgage of $1,000 was obtained from J.R. Tankens of Pleasantville (he was not a member of the church), and the church was built. The cornerstone was laid in October of 1895 and it was dedicated on October 22, 1896. 

This church on Lincoln Avenue was the home of Emanuel for the next 60 years. It was a large one-room building seating 90 people. It had a semi-circular alter, a large and high pulpit built against the wall. It was heated by a large stove. Kerosene lamps were used for light and water had to be carried to the building. People came by horse and buggy and thus a large horse shed was built in the back of the building.

In 1911 electricity was added and by 1920 the mortgage was paid. The congregation decided to complete the basement and build a fellowship hall. The services were held in Swedish and there was no regular pastor. Or Sunday School Activity. Occasionally the student pastors would come from Upsala College. The families would gather with their own children and plan Christmas and Easter programs under the guidance of the Deacons.

In the fall of 1911, Pastor John Johnson from the Bronx conducted the first confirmation class of 7 girls and 3 boys. These ten were confirmed on March 31st, 1912. Ida Brown was a member of that class.

On September 1, 1916, the first ordained pastor arrived to serve the combined White Plains / Pleasantville parishes. Pastor William Frindberg used English as the language of the services once each month. The services were at Trinity in White Plains in the morning and at 3:45 Sunday afternoon in Pleasantville.

Sunday school was started and the second confirmation class began. In 1917, the first Luther League began and the Ladies Aid Society and men’s clubs were organized.

This arrangement with Trinity continued until 1949 when it became evident that one person could not serve both congregations effectively. Emanuel had 47 adult members and 23 children, and George Nelson, a seminary student intern, came to Pleasantville to serve the congregation. The Board of American Missions sponsored his work.  Membership increase by 50% and he made the congregation believe that someday they would have a large church. At the end of that year, it was decided that Emanuel should continue alone and that they should hire a full time pastor and seek a new site. In 1950 Pastor Theordore Lundquist served as Vice-Pastor. Student pastors Kenneth Dale (1951) and Joseph Anderson (1952) served the congregation until 1952. The first full-time resident pastor, Roger Boraas, served from August 1, 1952 until December of 1954. Rev. Dr. Arnold Carlson served as interim Pastor from 1955 to 1956 while completing his Doctoral studies at Union Seminary in New York. In July of 1956 Pastor John R. Pearson began his ministry at Emanuel. 

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