The congregation was organized on September 12, 1858, in the basement of the Christian Church, then on East Douglas Ave. in Jacksonville. The only indication of interested persons is a subscription list for the first church building. Fourteen men pledged different amounts.

The congregation had difficult times during the first ten years, due to the Civil War and its immediate effects. Through the first ten years six pastors are known to have served the congregation. From its earliest days Salem has had a close relationship with The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the congregation officially joined the synod in 1868.

The first church home of the congregation was built on East College Ave. north of the present gymnasium. The building served as the church from 1864 to 1877 but continued to serve as the school until 1938 when a new school building was dedicated on the site of the present gymnasium. The second church building had been the third ward school building. With its wing this building served as the church and parsonage until 1923 when the present church was dedicated.

The church has served the City of Jacksonville through a deep interest in its various institutions. Work is known to have been done among the pupils of the School For the Visually Impaired since at least 1890. When the Lutheran church began work among the deaf in Jacksonville in 1901 Salem offered its facilities to the missionary in charge. Since about 1910 pastors of Salem have been serving clients of the Jacksonville Developmental Center. Salem's pastors and members minister to inmates at the State of Illinois's Correctional Facility. Salem has always had an interest in the spiritual need of students attending Illinois College and MacMurray College.

Salem School was opened January 9, 1859. For the first 50 years of the school's existence it was almost continually administered and taught by the pastor of the congregation. In 1904, with the arrival of Rev. Hallerberg, it was felt that the school needed the services of regularly trained teachers. At the same time it was decided that English would be the primary language used in the school.

The school has grown considerably in size and depth since those early years. The present School building was dedicated in 1954, the gymnasium in 1964, and the Annex in 1994. Salem School presently has 70+ pupils in Kindergarten through grade 8 and 50+ pupils in 3 and 4 year-old Pre-School. Mr. Craig Busseau heads a staff of 5 full-time teachers. In addition there are two part-time secretaries, part-time music teachers, teacher aides, and kitchen workers.

Since 1941 Salem has broadcast its Sunday morning worship service over radio station WLDS. For those who cannot attend church this service has been an inspiration and comfort for many years.

With her pastors, Rev. Peter Brechbuhl and Rev. Richard Salcido, Salem looks to the future with great anticipation. A new church building hopefully will become a reality in the next 5 - 10 years. New opportunities are viewed as a challenge to share the good news of Jesus Christ.