Bethlehem Lutheran Church (Round Top, Texas)

Bethelem Lutheran Church is an historic stone Lutheran church located at 412 South White Street in Round Top, Texas.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Round Top, Texas
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Bethlehem Lutheran Church (the United States)
Location412 S. White St.,
Round Top, TX
Coordinates30°03′46″N 96°41′58″W
Area3 acres (1.2 ha)
Built1866 (1866)
MasonCarl Siegismund Bauer
NRHP reference No.78002928
Significant dates
Added to NRHP10 August 1978[1]
Designated RTHL1965[2]

Construction

The building was designed by Carl Siegismund Bauer, a German Texan, who also served as the head mason. The church was built from May 6 to October 28, 1866. Bauer's sons and family as well as the local citizens contributed the labor to raise the church. The sandstone was quarried from Cummins Creek bounding the church site on the west. Eastern Red Cedar from the creek bottom were harvested and hand hewn into beams for the framing timber. The side walls are reinforced by iron tie rods across the interior added in 1873 and supported by 4 exterior stone buttresses on the south side.[3]

Pipe organ

A cedar pipe organ built by John Traugott Wantke, also a German Texan, was dedicated on January 13, 1867 the day the congregation was formally organized.[3][4] The organ made primarily from local cedar was restored in 1966 and 1995 and as of 2016 it remained in use.[5][6] The organ is one of the most historic in the state, the largest of six organs Wantke built, and one of three surviving as of 1987.[7] The organ received certificate number 56 from the Organ Historical Society on May 24, 1987.[6][7]

History

It is one of the earliest stone churches built in this section of Texas and has been used for services continuously since its construction in 1866.[3][8] It is the oldest Lutheran church sanctuary in Texas.[9] The first pastor was J. Adam Neuthard.[2] It was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1965 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 10, 1978.[2][3] The church celebrated its sesquicentennial on October 23, 2016.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System – Bethlehem Lutheran Church (#78002928)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2 November 2013.
  2. "Details for Bethlehem Lutheran Church Historic Marker". Texas Historic Site Atlas. Texas Historical Commission. Atlas No. 5149000396. Marker No. 396. Retrieved 4 Feb 2020.
  3. Williams, Joe; McCreary, Binnie (10 Aug 1978). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Bethlehem Lutheran Church" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 3 Feb 2020.
  4. "The History of Bethlehem Lutheran Church". rtis.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2008.
  5. Hahn, Arthur (2 Jul 2016). "Handmade organ still producing beautiful music". The Banner–Press. Brenham, Texas.
  6. "Round Top, Texas. Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Johann Traugott Wandke (1867)". The OHS Pipe Organ Database. Organ Historical Society (OHS). 26 Jul 2016. Retrieved 4 Feb 2020.
  7. Ward, Charles (17 May 1987). "Early-music lovers, take note of the festival at Round Top". Houston Chronicle. p. 14.
  8. Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. TX-3124, "Bethlehem Lutheran Church, White Street, Round Top, Fayette County, TX", 10 photos, 8 measured drawings, 8 data pages.
  9. "Bethlehem Lutheran Church". rtis.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2009.

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