The 75th anniversary observance of the reconstruction of the Annville Church of the Brethren building at 495 E. Maple St., Annville, will be celebrated Nov. 17.
The public is invited to attend the anniversary observance on Sunday. Worship begins at 10:15 a.m.
According to a release from the church, the cornerstone of the current church building was laid on Nov. 14, 1948. The building was dedicated Nov. 23-27, 1949.
The building replaced the 1906 church building, which was severely damaged by a fire caused by a furnace malfunction in 1947.
According to information printed in the book, “Reflections on a Century: A Brief History of Annville Church of the Brethren 1906-2006,” some of the materials from the damaged church building, including bricks, were salvaged after the fire and used in the reconstruction. Most of the bricks were used in the interior structure of the building, although a few of the bricks from the original building are visible in the storage area to the left of the chancel area at the front of the church.
According to Annville’s co-pastor, Paul Liepelt, the Sunday worship service will include a number of nods to the original dedication service, as well as past anniversary celebrations. The scripture focus of the day – Matthew 16: 13-20 – was also used at the dedication ceremony.
Invitations to attend or participate in the upcoming anniversary event were sent to former pastors and, to help set the mood, members are invited to dress in the plainest clothing they have for the worship service. (“If you have a prayer covering, this would be a great Sunday to wear it,” Liepelt said in the release.)
The anniversary also will be the focus of a “Moment in History” presentation during the service. A carry-in meal will be served at the church afterwards.
The dedication program booklet, published in 1949, contains the following history of the church:
The German Baptist Brethren purchased the plot of ground at the present location, Maple and Zeigler Streets, in 1905 in three tracts. One from Brother and Sister F.W. Yake, who are present members of the Annville congregation, one from Lydia Kettering and the other from H.H. Kreider. In 1906, the Spring Creek congregation built a three-story brick church 48 feet by 78 feet on these plots of ground, Brother F.W. Yake being the contractor.
In 1915, a cyclone passed over the town of Annville and damaged the church building by blowing the roof from the church. Also, the gable ends and ceiling needed to be replaced; these replacements were made and worship continued.
On Feb. 22, 1947, the building was partly destroyed by fire and much damaged by the smoke.
On July 21, 1947, the Annville congregation met in a special council and decided to remove the church and build a new brick church on the same tract of land. The same fall, the old church was removed, and the material saved to build a new church.
On May 28, 1948, the excavation began, and on Nov. 14, 1948, the cornerstone was laid with Elder Carl Zeigler, who was reared in the Annville congregation, now pastor of the Lebanon Church, as the speaker. The building being completed by the contractor service Daniel F. Wenger, from Annville, for the first service Nov. 23, 1949, at an approximate cost of $135,000 including the furniture. The finances were provided for by the sale of bonds to the approximate amount of $75,000 and the generous giving of labor and money by the people.
For more information, visit the church website.
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