During the mid 1950's a number of fishermen from the North-East of Scotland, regularly visited Lerwick Harbour.  They met with some local men, who desired to know more about the Pentecostal gifts of the Spirit, of which the fisherman spoke.  Three local men, George Smith Nicolson (a Church of Scotland elder), Willie Fraser (a builder) and Magnie Doull, were instrumental in bringing an Assemblies of God Evangelist named Gordon Cove, to Shetland in 1954.  Mr Cove held a three week campaign in Lerwick Town Hall, where he preached the Gospel and prayed for the sick.  These meetings were very well attended.  He returned to the islands some 18 months later and held a further campaign, which focused on the things of the Spirit.

After this campaign (around 1958), there was a nucleus of around 20 people who started meeting together for fellowship and aligned themselves to the Assemblies of God.  Mr George Smith Nicolson and Mr Arthur Rosie, were appointed as elders.  To begin with, the fellowship met in the Rechabite Hall, in Mounthooly Street.  This venue in later years was to become the local dance hall, named "The Planets".  It was here that a Christian Coffee bar was later established and run by an interdenominational committee.  Mr Fraser was a local business man, and he rented the Church a first-floor room, above a baker's shop in Commercial Road.

In the early 60's, probably around 1962/63, the Church bought this room from Mr Fraser.  The room next door was also purchased and the two rooms were combined.  The Church met in this property for over 20 years.

The membership of the Church grew over these years and in 1984 the present building in Bank Lane, was officially opened.  The building had been purchased a couple of years' earlier and was renovated by the members of the church, who all assisted with the necessary building and decorating work.  Not only did the Church possess a new building, but the it also adopted a new name, becoming known as Emmanuel Christian Fellowship.

Although Emmanuel has always had an interest in missions, until recently, there are no known people who have been commended to the mission field from the Fellowship.  Over the years, two members, James Sim and Andy Holt-Brook attended the Mattersey Bible College and a young Matthew Kerr spent two years on the Operation Mobilisation Ship, "Doulos" (where he met his wife Claire).  During the Autumn of 2007, Matthew and Claire and their family joined the work at Sefton Village in the Philippines.

History of the ECF Bank Lane Building