Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Use Restrictions

No physical characteristics affect use of this material.

Preferred Citation

German Reformed Church Photograph (VC 0080), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

Jeff Ball, Leesburg, VA

Alternative Form Available

None

Accruals

2016.0026

Processing Information

Processed by Laura Christiansen, research by Jack Craig, 8 June 2016

Historical Information

The German Reformed Church in Lovettsville, VA was one of the earliest German Reformed congregations established in Virginia. Many early German settlers in Lovettsville originated in the Palatinate region of Germany and brought the Reformed Church, a Calvinist sect of Protestantism, with them. By 1748 a growing community was established in upper Loudoun County under the leadership of a Reformed Church elder, William Wenner (fl. 1720 -1750). Prior to the construction of a church building, the congregation worshipped in members' homes. A log structure was built where Wenner led prayer services and performed marriages, baptisms, and funerals. The building also served as a school, with Wenner acting as schoolmaster. In 1766 a Reformed Church Minister, Reverend Charles Lange (fl. 1750-1768) from Frederick, MD took over pastoral care of the congregation.

A second log church was built to replace the original structure around 1775, and this in turn was replaced by a brick church building around 1819. This building was demolished in 1901, and its bricks were used by the congregation for constructing a new church building within the town of Lovettsville which was re-named St. James. Up until that time, the three previous churches were known simply as the "German Reformed Church". Mergers in the 20th century resulted with St. James becoming part of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, the United Church of Christ, and finally, St. James United Church of Christ. Saint James Reformed Cemetery remains at the site of the three earlier church buildings.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of one undated 10 inch x 12 inch sepia toned photograph of the German Reformed Church constructed around 1819 in Lovettsville, VA. The image includes some portions of the Cemetery surrounding the church. The stamp of photographer William Alexander Burger (1856-1922) of Frederick, MD appears on the reverse. The corners and edges of the matt have been damaged and should be handled with care. The photograph is stored with oversized photographs.

Arrangement

Folder: Item

Related Material

Loudoun County, VA Cemetery Collection, 1990- (M 017), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Adjunct Descriptive Data

Bibliography

Weatherly, Yetive Rockefeller. 1976. Lovettsville, the German Settlement: an Informal History of the Lovettsville, Virginia Area in Commemoration of the American Revolution Bicentennial. Lovettsville, VA: Lovettsville Bicentennial Committee.

Scheel, Eugene M. 2002. Loudoun Discovered: Communities, Corners & Crossroads. V. 5. Leesburg, VA: Friends of the Thomas Balch Library.

The History of Loudoun County, Virginia. "Lovettsville - A German Settlement." http://www.loudounhistory.org/history/lovettsville.htm, accessed 29 May 2016.

Loudoun County Historical Society (Loudoun County, VA.). 2005. Bulletin of the Loudoun County Historical Society. Leesburg, VA: Loudoun County Historical Society.

Lovettsville Historical Society and Museum. "Lovettsville's Oldest Church- St. James at 283 Years." http://www.lovettsvillehistoricalsociety.org accessed 29 May 2016.

Marker History.com - "First German Reformed Church Site and Cemetery Marker, TA-1." http://www.markerhistory.com/first-german-reformed-church-site-and-cemetery accessed 29 May 2016.

Other Finding Aid

PastPerfect

Technical Requirements

None