In 1891 the present structure was erected by the well-known builder, Henry Lemster and his son, Charles. With its lofty domed ceilings and its smoothly finished walls the resulting acoustics were splendid and the fine tall stained glass windows provided a flood of light. A pipe organ was installed and in 1930 the large Parish Hall was added.

Through the years this building also served as a community polling place, as a place for music recitals, and a World War I Red Cross bandages center, and as a center for Boy Scout and Youth activity.

On Thursday July 31, 1975, the church was gutted by fire. The interior was destroyed, the stained glass windows were damaged or destroyed, and the pipes of the organ were literally melted.

Immanuel congregation moved its worship services to its Lutheran School gymnasium in northeast Valparaiso and in November decided to build its long-planned new church at that site. Some 60 members of Immanuel, wishing to restore the damaged building, formed a sister congregation. The structure and site were sold to this sister congregation during the summer of 1976.

Heritage Lutheran Church was the name chosen by the new congregation. The Parish Hall was refurbished in ten weeks and the first service was held on Founder's Day, October 31, 1976.

For two years the members cleaned, repaired, scrubbed, painted, and employed professionals to restore the church to its original structure and design. The Fort Wayne glass company that provided the original stained glass windows still had the original designs and identical replacements of the originals were installed.

The restored structure was re-dedicated to the praise and glory of God on October 29, 1978.

In 1981 the majestic steeple was installed to replace the original which had been removed for safety reasons in 1957.

The restoration of the structure is now complete. Our church building is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.