It seems reasonable to state that a group of Germans and a few Swedes gathered for religious instruction, given likely by an itinerant school master, about 1700, near where the present Friesburg Church now stands. Records show that churches were organized at Hackensack and in Bergen, Hunterdon and Salem counties about 1680 or 1690. These churches were for the most part organized by The Rev. Justus Falchner. He labored some twenty years in this section diligently hunting up the settlements of Lutherans and faithfully ministering to them. We do have a record of Emanuel that dates from 1726, which is taken from the "Hallesche Nachrichten." Following is a translation: In Salem County, NJ not far from the sources of the two streams, Cohansey and Alloway, where the village of Friesburg now stands, existed a Lutheran Congregation from early times.

From the year 1726 to 1740 the Swedish minister The Rev. Peter Tranberg, who was located eighteen miles away, provided the people with pastoral care.

In the year 1739 they built their first church which was constructed of wood.

Upon the transfer of Peter Tranberg to Christiana, (now Wilmington, DE) he continued to serve the Cohansey congregation until the arrival of Pastor Gabriel Nasman in October 1743, who visited the people once a month from Philadelphia and held services in German and English. In the year 1745 the congregation addressed itself to the German Lutheran Pastors of Philadelphia, and in April of that year they were visited by Pastor Peter Brunnholtz. At this time is was agreed that a pastor from Philadelphia should visit Friesburg at certain times and that in the meantime, school teachers should be provided who would hold regular services and read a sermon on Sundays. Schoolmaster Jacob Laser was sent with Frances Postil's (book of sermons.) Under this arrangement the congregation remained in the care of the Philadelphia Pastors for 50 years and was visited once yearly at which time the Catechumens prepared by the Padagogues were confirmed, children baptized and communion administered.

In 1759 The Rev. Henry Muhlenburg, Sr. spent a week in the congregation June 8 to 14th. The faithful school teacher J. Kuhlmann had prepared 11 for confirmation and 125 communed. On this visit The Rev. Muhlenburg was entertained by Jacob Fries.

In 1768 a new church (present building) was built of brick at a cost of $914.34.

An addition to this building was added in 1869.