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'''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''', built from 1743–1745 in ], is the oldest unchanged ] church building in the United States in continuous use by the same congregation.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/>


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 church, which cost 200 ], was designed by ]. Prior to its construction, the congregation worshiped in a nearby barn. 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 Marstellar, John Nicholas Cressman, Anthony or Adam Heilman, 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 Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, his wife Anna Maria Weiser, and their daughter Mary Swaine and son General Peter Muhlenberg.<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 ] 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 consecrated until 1745. It was named after August Hermann Francke, founder of the Francke Institutions in Halle, Germany, a center of Lutheran Pietism where Henry Melchior Muhlenberg had trained. During the ], 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 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. A digital organ was placed in the original organ case in the early 1990s. By the mid-1800s, 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; 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 digital organ 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 journal|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Augustus Lutheran Church|url=http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/67000019.pdf |format=pdf|date=August 30, 1974 |author=Patricia Heintzelman and Charles Snell |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{PDFlink||970&nbsp;KB}}</ref> The church was declared a ] in 1967.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{Cite journal|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Augustus Lutheran Church|url=http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/67000019.pdf |format=pdf|date=August 30, 1974 |author=Patricia Heintzelman and Charles Snell |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{PDFlink||970&nbsp;KB}}</ref>
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It is located at 717 West Main Street, Trappe, Pennsylvania. It is located at 717 West Main Street, Trappe, Pennsylvania.


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.


==See also== ==See also==

Revision as of 23:55, 21 May 2015

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 Church
Location717 Main Street, Trappe, Pennsylvania
Built1743
ArchitectDr. Heinrich Melchior Muhlenburg
NRHP reference No.67000019
Significant dates
Added to NRHPDecember 24, 1967
Designated NHLDecember 24, 1967
Designated PHMCSeptember 03, 1947

Augustus Lutheran Church, built from 1743–1745 in Trappe, Pennsylvania, is the oldest unchanged Lutheran church building in the United States in continuous use by the same congregation.

The church, which cost 200 pounds sterling, was designed by Heinrich Melchior Mühlenberg. Prior to its construction, the congregation worshiped in a nearby barn. 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 Marstellar, John Nicholas Cressman, Anthony or Adam Heilman, 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 Henry Melchior 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 Institutions 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 later in the 19th century 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 in 1967.

It is located at 717 West Main Street, Trappe, Pennsylvania.


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. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  3. ^ "Augustus Lutheran Church". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
  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 Template:PDFlink
  5. Minardi, Lisa. Pastors & Patriots: The Muhlenberg Family of Pennsylvania (Collegeville, PA: Berman Museum of Art, 2011), p. 10-11.

External links

40°12′07″N 75°28′50″W / 40.2019°N 75.4805°W / 40.2019; -75.4805

US National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
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