Established in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, in 1848 by Congregational and Presbyterian American missionaries, the NEC is the oldest and the largest of nine congregations situated outside Beirut in the towns of Abeih, Aramoun, Khaldeh, Kafarshima, Hadath, Dbayyeh, Jdeideh and Dhour el-Shweir.

In 1870, the first Evangelical Church was built to house the Arabic and English speaking congregations.

During the next hundred years, the church was the centre for all the activities and celebrations of both communities.

Then during the Lebanese civil war (1975–1990) it was totally destroyed except for the bell tower and its congregation consequently scattered.

On 4 August 2020, the church was badly damaged in the Beirut explosion, when all of its stained glass windows were blown out.