Immanuel Church stands on the early colonial survey line called "The Golden Race," a tract patented to Thomas Greenfield by Lord Baltimore in 1695. It was one of the earliest Methodist congregations in America and was known as Smith's Meeting House from 1794 to 1839 and as Emory Chapel from 1840 to 1879. It was part of the Prince George's circuit, and Bishop Francis Asbury preached at the meeting house in March 1813.