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1 North College Avenue |
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Annville United Methodist Church |
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The congregation that built this church is regarded as Annville’s second oldest, the first being the old Jerusalem Church at the start of the tour. Organized around 1823 by Jacob Erb, the early congregation was characterized as hard-working, non-professional people who lived and worshipped simply, and probably did not feel comfortable with the formal liturgy of the Jerusalem Reformed Church. In 1825 they built their first house of worship, located at the corner of Mill Alley and Queen Street (then the main street). Their second church was located at 118 West Main Street, which building housed St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and now St. Anthony Coptic Church. The Annville United Brethren Church was dedicated November 7, 1912 as a church for Lebanon Valley College, as well as for the community. Conferences of the United Brethren denomination, as well as LVC Chapel services (before Miller Chapel was completed in October 1966), have been held here. In April of 1968 a denominational merger led to the name Annville United Methodist Church (but note the inscription on the exterior wall facing East Main Street). |
Annville United
shortly after its
dedication in 1912
(LCPCH, 14) |
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The 81- x 113-foot building is constructed of King of Prussia marble, also known as Pennsylvania blue marble, drawn from the same quarry used in constructing the Senate Reception Hall in the United States Capitol building. The interior uses the “Akron Plan”—employed by many of the Protestant churches around the turn of the 20th century—designed to bring the sanctuary and the Sunday School rooms more closely together. This is accomplished by having one end of the central meeting area extended into a semi-circle with a balcony above and a series of Sunday School rooms below. After an initial meeting in the common area, the teachers and students could then disperse to their separate classrooms and close the doors, coming together again at the end of the class. The entire area could also be opened up to the larger congregation. A striking feature of the Annville United Methodist Church is the series of large stained glass windows depicting various stages in the life of Christ. On the East side are scenes of Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus being visited by the three Wise Men and a scene of Jesus as a shepherd. On the West side are scenes of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and the Angel announcing “He is risen!” Additionally, on the northern Sunday School area, is a large stained glass window of Jesus with the children. Although a number of additions and changes have been made to the building over the years—including installation of a large organ which partially covers the south window—the basic design of the building remains. |
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