High German Evangelical Reformed Church

High German Evangelical Reformed Church, also known as Zion Reformed and Zion United Church of Christ, is a historic Evangelical and Reformed church at 622 West Hamilton Street in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States.

High German Evangelical Reformed Church
Zion United Church of Christ in Allentown, Pennsylvania, October 2011
Location622 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Area0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Built1762
ArchitectLewis Jacoby
Architectural styleLate Gothic Revival
NRHP reference No.83002259[1]
Added to NRHPJuly 28, 1983

A log structure was built on the site in 1762. A simple brick church said to be in the vernacular federal style was built a few yards north of the log church in 1773.

In 1777, while the British occupied Philadelphia, this church was used to hide the Liberty Bell as well as the chimes from Philadelphia's Christ Church. This clandestine act of patriotism prevented the British from melting down these treasures for use as munitions.[2]

In 1838, the church was enlarged and may have incorporated the 1762 structure into the building inside the walls of the current boiler room. The building was doubled in size from 1886 to 1888 in gothic revival style by architect Lewis Jacoby.[3]

In 1983, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[1] The Liberty Bell Museum, commemorating the location of the Liberty Bell's hiding in 1777, is located inside the church.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. Bloom, Ken; Wolbers, Marian (1984). Allentown A Pictorial History (Special ed.). Norfolk, VA: The Donning Company/Publishers. pp. 18–19.
  3. "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania" (Searchable database). CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Note: This includes Theodore J. Mabus (June 1982). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: The High German Evangelical Reformed Church" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-03-04.

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