Augustus Lutheran Church - Trappe, PA
Posted by: neoc1
N 40° 12.109 W 075° 28.832
18T E 459102 N 4450268
The second, early Romanesque Revival style, Augustus Lutheran Church, a.k.a. The Brick Church, is located on the grounds of the original Augustus Lutheran Church, a.k.a. the Old Trappe Church, at 717 W. Main Street in Trappe, PA.
Waymark Code: WM17AHD
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 01/14/2023
Views: 0
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Augustus Lutheran Church:
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Augustus Lutheran Church History:
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Wikipedia:
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The original Augustus Lutheran Church is the oldest existing Lutheran church building in the United States. It was built in 1743 by Heinrich Melchior Muhlenburg in the early Pennsylvania German rural style. The church was dedicated in September 1745. In 1853 a second, much larger brick church was built nearby in 1852, with the original's name. To distinguish between the two this church is known locally as the Brick Church.
The early Romanesque Revival style was popular among Germany immigrants, a style they called Rundbogenstil ("Round-arched style") Wikipedia Link. The Romanesque Revival style church has a symmetrical façade with a gable roof and a central rounded arch entrance flanked by a pair of tall and narrow Romanesque arch windows. A third smaller window of the same style is located above the entrance. Below the apex of the gable end is a round louvered window. Between the entrance and the small window is a dated plaque which is inscribed:
AUGUSTUS LUTHERAN CHURCH
Founded A.D. 1753
Rebuilt A.D. 1852
Remodeled A.D. 1979
Rising from the roof is a five stage steeple. The lower stage is a square tower, then an octagonal belfry with rounded louvered windows. Next a short tapered octagonal tower below a second belfry with louvered windows and on top a tapered octagonal spire topped by a cross.
The southeast side of the church is seven bays deep. Each bay has a tall Romanesque arch window on the upper level and small shuttered windows on the lower level. The fifth bay has an one door entrance.The northwest side abuts the Muhlenburg Center building built in 1960.
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