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{{short description|Historic church in Pennsylvania, United States}}
⚫ {{Infobox nrhp
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
⚫ | name =Augustus Lutheran Church

⚫ | nrhp_type =nhl
⚫ {{Infobox NRHP
⚫ | image = Augustus Lutheran Church, 717 West Main Street, Trappe (Montgomery County, Pennsylvaina).jpg
| caption = Augustus Lutheran Church | name = Augustus Lutheran Church
⚫ | nrhp_type = nhl
⚫ | location= 717 Main Street, ]
⚫ | image = Augustus Lutheran Church, 717 West Main Street, Trappe (Montgomery County, Pennsylvaina).jpg
⚫ | locmapin = Pennsylvania
⚫ | caption = Augustus Lutheran Church
| area =
⚫ | location = 717 Main Street, ]
| built =1743
⚫ | coordinates = {{coord|40.2019|-75.4805|region:US-PA_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
⚫ | architect= ]
⚫ | locmapin = Pennsylvania#USA
⚫ | architecture=
| area =
⚫ | designated_nrhp_type= December 24, 1967<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=749&ResourceType=Building|title=Augustus Lutheran Church |accessdate=2007-11-08|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
| built = {{start date and age|1743}}
| added = December 24, 1967<ref name=nris/>
⚫ | architect = ]
| Vindictam = august 16, 2012
⚫ | architecture =
| governing_body = Private
⚫ | designated_nrhp_type = {{start date and age|1967|12|24}}<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=749&ResourceType=Building |title=Augustus Lutheran Church |accessdate=2007-11-08 |work=National Historic Landmark summary listing |publisher=National Park Service |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606071237/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=749&ResourceType=Building |archivedate=2011-06-06 }}</ref>
⚫ | refnum=67000019<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
| added = {{start date and age|1967|12|24}}<ref name=nris/>
⚫ | refnum = 67000019<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
| designated_other1_name = Pennsylvania state historical marker
| designated_other1_abbr = PHMC
| designated_other1_date = {{start date and age|1947|9|3}}<ref name=phmcdatabase>{{cite web | title =PHMC Historical Markers | work =Historical Marker Database | publisher =Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission | url =http://search.pahistoricalmarkers.com/ | accessdate =December 30, 2013 | archive-url =https://archive.today/20131207041235/http://search.pahistoricalmarkers.com/ | archive-date =December 7, 2013 | url-status =dead }}</ref>
| designated_other1_link = List of Pennsylvania state historical markers
| designated_other1_color = navy
| designated_other1_textcolor = #ffc94b
}} }}
'''Augustus Lutheran Church''', built during 1743-1745 in ], is the oldest unchanged ] church building in the United States in continuous use by the same congregation.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/> '''Augustus Lutheran Church''' is a historic church and ] congregation at 717 West Main Street in ]. Consecrated in 1745, it is the oldest extant Lutheran church building in the United States.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/> It continues to be used by the founding congregation for services on Christmas Eve and during the summer. It was designated a ] in 1967.<ref name="nhlsum"/>


==History==
The church, which cost 200 ], was designed by ]. All of the interior fittings, except for the English-made pulpit, were fabricated from local materials. The building is built of local sandstone faced with stucco; the east end of the building is formed into a half-]. The roof is framed with local timber and covered in wooden shakes. It replaced a nearby frame barn, and later, a stone schoolhouse, as the local house of worship. The cemetery at the rear of the building contains stones dating from 1736 and earlier, as well as the grave of Mühlenberg, his wife Anna Maria Weiser, and son Peter Muhlenberg. A monument at the west end of the church commemorates unknown soldiers buried in the cemetery.
The Trappe area was settled in 1717 by Germans who worshipped informally or under itinerant preachers until the arrival of ] in 1742. Their first church, which cost 200 ], was designed by Mühlenberg. All of the interior fittings were fabricated from local materials, including the pulpit, which is made of American black walnut. The building is constructed of red sandstone (now faced with stucco); the east end of the building is formed into a three-sided apse. Above the south entrance is a date stone inscribed in Latin with the names of the church's founders, including Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, Frederick Marsteller, John Nicholas Cressman, Anthony Heilman (Hallman), Jacob Miller, Henry Haas, and George Kebner. The roof is framed with oak rafters and covered in cedar shingles. The cemetery at the rear of the building contains tombstones dating from 1736 and earlier, as well as the graves of Muhlenberg, his wife Anna Maria Weiser, and their daughter Mary Swaine and son General ].<ref>Minardi, Lisa. Pastors & Patriots: The Muhlenberg Family of Pennsylvania (Collegeville, PA: Berman Museum of Art, 2011), p. 10-11.</ref>


Though the shell of the building was finished during 1743, the church was not consecrated until 1745. During the ], the building was used as a camping site and hospital for the ]. It is said that George Washington worshiped here later in the war; however, the accuracy of this story cannot be determined. Although the shell of the building was finished in 1743, the church was not ] until 1745. It was named after ], founder of the ] in ], Germany, a center of Lutheran ] where Henry Melchior Muhlenberg had trained. During the ], the building was used as a camping site and hospital for the ]. A monument at the west end of the church commemorates unknown Revolutionary War soldiers buried in the cemetery.


By 1860, however, the congregation had outgrown the old building, and a new ] church was built. This structure was ] in 1852, whereupon the old building became used for Sunday School classes. A freak thunderstorm later in the 19th century severely damaged the roof and destroyed the organ; however, it was decided to reconstruct the roof in its original configuration. A cast-iron stove was then added to the previously unheated building. Renovations in the 1920s restored the building to its original appearance. In the late 1950s, services were once again held in the Old Church in the summer and on ], a tradition which continues to the present day. The organ was restored in the early 1990s. By the mid-1800s, the congregation had outgrown the old building, and a new ] church was built. This structure was consecrated in 1852, whereupon the old building became used for Sunday School classes. A freak thunderstorm in 1860 severely damaged the roof; however, it was decided to restore the building rather than tear it down. A cast-iron stove was then added to the previously unheated building. Renovations in the 1920s restored the building to its original appearance. In the late 1950s, services were once again held in the Old Church in the summer and on ], a tradition which continues to the present day. A ] was placed in the original organ case in the early 1990s.


The church was declared a ] in 1967.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{Cite document|title={{PDFlink||513&nbsp;KB}}|date=August 30, 1974 |author=Patricia Heintzelman and Charles Snell |publisher=National Park Service|postscript=<!--None-->}} and {{PDFlink||970&nbsp;KB}}</ref> The church was declared a ] on December 24, 1967.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{Cite journal|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Augustus Lutheran Church|url={{NHLS url|id=67000019}} |format=pdf|date=August 30, 1974 |author=Patricia Heintzelman and Charles Snell |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{NHLS url|id=67000019|title=Accompanying 3 National Park Service photos, exterior, from 1967.|photos=y}}&nbsp;{{small|(970&nbsp;KB)}}</ref>


<gallery mode=packed heights = 180>
It is located at 717 West Main Street, Trappe, Pennsylvania.
File:Augustuschurchplaque.JPG|Datestone in Latin

File:HMMuhlenberggrave.JPG|Grave of Henry M. Muhlenberg
Over the entrance door is a mural stone naming the founders of the church, including Rev.Muhlenburg and Frederick Ludwig Marsteller, Muhlenburg's friend and sponsor. Muhlenburg, Marsteller and Rev.Muhlenburg's son, the American General, are buried together adjacent the church wall at the rear of the church.
Old Trappe Church Interior 1919.JPG|Pulpit in 1919
Augustuscemetery.JPG|Cemetery and church
</gallery>


==See also== ==See also==
*] *]
*]
⚫ *]


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references />


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category}} {{Commons category|Augustus Lutheran Church}}
*{{Official|augustustrappe.org}}
*
*] (HABS) documentation, filed under 717 West Main Street, Trappe, Montgomery County, PA:
* at Historical Society of Pennsylvania
**{{HABS |survey=PA-175 |id=pa0635 |title=Old Trappe Church |photos=10 |supp=yes |link=no}}
⚫ {{coord|40.2019|-75.4805|region:US-PA_type:landmark|display=title}}
**{{HABS |survey=PA-6023 |id=pa2976 |title=Augustus Lutheran Church |photos=17 |cap=1 |link=no}}


{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}} {{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania}}
{{Authority control}}


] ]
⚫ ]
⚫ ]
⚫ ]
⚫ ]
]
] ]
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]

Latest revision as of 22:46, 21 October 2023

Historic church in Pennsylvania, United States

United States historic place
Augustus Lutheran Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Pennsylvania state historical marker
Augustus Lutheran Church
Augustus Lutheran Church is located in PennsylvaniaAugustus Lutheran ChurchShow map of PennsylvaniaAugustus Lutheran Church is located in the United StatesAugustus Lutheran ChurchShow map of the United States
Location717 Main Street, Trappe, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°12′07″N 75°28′50″W / 40.2019°N 75.4805°W / 40.2019; -75.4805
Built1743; 282 years ago (1743)
ArchitectHeinrich Melchior Muhlenburg
NRHP reference No.67000019
Significant dates
Added to NRHPDecember 24, 1967; 57 years ago (1967-12-24)
Designated NHLDecember 24, 1967; 57 years ago (1967-12-24)
Designated PHMCSeptember 3, 1947; 77 years ago (1947-09-03)

Augustus Lutheran Church is a historic church and Lutheran congregation at 717 West Main Street in Trappe, Pennsylvania. Consecrated in 1745, it is the oldest extant Lutheran church building in the United States. It continues to be used by the founding congregation for services on Christmas Eve and during the summer. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1967.

History

The Trappe area was settled in 1717 by Germans who worshipped informally or under itinerant preachers until the arrival of Heinrich Melchior Mühlenberg in 1742. Their first church, which cost 200 pounds sterling, was designed by Mühlenberg. All of the interior fittings were fabricated from local materials, including the pulpit, which is made of American black walnut. The building is constructed of red sandstone (now faced with stucco); the east end of the building is formed into a three-sided apse. Above the south entrance is a date stone inscribed in Latin with the names of the church's founders, including Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, Frederick Marsteller, John Nicholas Cressman, Anthony Heilman (Hallman), Jacob Miller, Henry Haas, and George Kebner. The roof is framed with oak rafters and covered in cedar shingles. The cemetery at the rear of the building contains tombstones dating from 1736 and earlier, as well as the graves of Muhlenberg, his wife Anna Maria Weiser, and their daughter Mary Swaine and son General Peter Muhlenberg.

Although the shell of the building was finished in 1743, the church was not consecrated until 1745. It was named after August Hermann Francke, founder of the Francke Foundations in Halle, Germany, a center of Lutheran Pietism where Henry Melchior Muhlenberg had trained. During the American Revolution, the building was used as a camping site and hospital for the Continental Army. A monument at the west end of the church commemorates unknown Revolutionary War soldiers buried in the cemetery.

By the mid-1800s, the congregation had outgrown the old building, and a new brick church was built. This structure was consecrated in 1852, whereupon the old building became used for Sunday School classes. A freak thunderstorm in 1860 severely damaged the roof; however, it was decided to restore the building rather than tear it down. A cast-iron stove was then added to the previously unheated building. Renovations in the 1920s restored the building to its original appearance. In the late 1950s, services were once again held in the Old Church in the summer and on Christmas Eve, a tradition which continues to the present day. A digital organ was placed in the original organ case in the early 1990s.

The church was declared a National Historic Landmark on December 24, 1967.

  • Datestone in Latin Datestone in Latin
  • Grave of Henry M. Muhlenberg Grave of Henry M. Muhlenberg
  • Pulpit in 1919 Pulpit in 1919
  • Cemetery and church Cemetery and church

See also

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  3. ^ "Augustus Lutheran Church". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
  4. ^ Patricia Heintzelman and Charles Snell (August 30, 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Augustus Lutheran Church" (pdf). National Park Service. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying 3 National Park Service photos, exterior, from 1967. (970 KB)
  5. Minardi, Lisa. Pastors & Patriots: The Muhlenberg Family of Pennsylvania (Collegeville, PA: Berman Museum of Art, 2011), p. 10-11.

External links

US National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
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