|
200-208 East Main Street |
|
|
St. Mark Lutheran Evangelical Church |
|
|
In 1872, the Lutherans sold their share of the Jerusalem Church at 200 South White Oak to the Reformed Congregation and erected First Evangelical Lutheran Church at 200 East Main Street, Annville. A lot for the new church building was donated by John D. Biever of 49 South White Oak Street. |
|
|
the 1888 “View of
Annville” |
|
|
Back of Lutheran Complex on Main Street in 1888. |
|
|
First Lutheran in the
early 1900s
(LCPCH, 11) |
The church was dedicated on October 17, 1873. Mr. Biever also donated the two-story sexton’s house west of the church and made provisions through his endowment to have the parsonage built on the east side of the church at 208 East Main Street. A Sunday School building was added to the rear of the church in 1911. |
|
On January 28, 1968, members of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, which had worshipped at the building on the corner of Church and White Oak Streets (now the Arnold Art Gallery) since its dedication on April 27, 1890, merged with the First Lutheran congregation of East Main Street as the United Lutheran Church. For 3 ½ years the merged congregation worshiped in Miller Chapel of Lebanon Valley College. On December 15, 1969, the decision was made to build a new church on the site of First Church. Stones from the old church were used in the new edifice. The new building was dedicated on September 19, 1971, at 200 East Main Street. The name St. Mark was chosen by ballot in June 1971, and has been used to designate the church and congregation since that time. |
|
|
|
|
|
Observance of the 200th Anniversary of Lutheranism in Annville was marked by the construction and dedication on October 31, 2004 of a bell tower and lighted sign next to the church building. In the tower are the old bells from the First Lutheran and St. Paul’s buildings with three new bells, completing the merger visually and symbolically. |
|
