After a period of worshipping in the county courthouse and in various rented properties, the group was formally organized in 1845 with a charter membership of seventy-five.

This growth was accompanied by linguistic change: many members still worshipped in German, but English services had also begun by this time, facilitated by a minister who was fluent in both languages.

[4] Although built primarily of brick,[5] the walls also feature copious amounts of limestone and other types of stone.

The main entrance is placed at the base of the tower, which features narrow arched windows on three stories below the tall louvering that shelters the belfry.

Because the church sits on a street corner, two different sides of the building include massive gabled sections, each rising above groups of small windows.