On May 10, 1835, a permanent church known as St Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Newcomerstown was organized. It was in a house-chapel at the corner of Bridge and Neighbor Streets.

The bell that summoned the people to worship also served as a fire bell and was used to note the beginning of town council meetings. It was brought to town by a canal boat in 1841. It was the first bell in the community and was recently salvaged from the burned structure in 1999 to be placed in the new church once it's built.

The second congregational building was the original structure at 121 S. College Street. It was a frame; two story building built by the congregation for $3,500. The second floor was rented to the Masons. For a time, the rear of the structure was used for a community college, thus the Name College Street.