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New Hanover Township near Gilbertsville in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
 

Falkner Swamp Reformed Church

American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Site

 
 
Falkner Swamp Reformed Church Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, June 29, 2015
1. Falkner Swamp Reformed Church Marker
Inscription. The nations' oldest originally German Reformed Congregation in continuous existence was established here. The first Communion was celebrated October 15, 1725, with the Rev. John Philip Boehm, founder of the German Reformed Church in America, officiating. The present building was constructed in 1790. Since 1961 it has been affiliated with the United Church of Christ
 
Erected 1960 by Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. (Marker Number 55.)
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & ReligionColonial Era. In addition, it is included in the American Presbyterian and Reformed Historic Sites, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is October 15, 1863.
 
Location. 40° 17.758′ N, 75° 34.801′ W. Marker is near Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, in Montgomery County. It is in New Hanover Township. Marker is at the intersection of Swamp Pike and Leidy Road on Swamp Pike. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gilbertsville PA 19525, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Hanover Lutheran Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); John F. Hartranft (approx. 1.7 miles away); Boyertown Burial Casket Company
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(approx. 4.1 miles away); Jeremiah Sweinhart and Successors (approx. 4.1 miles away); Carl A. Spaatz (approx. 4.1 miles away); The Grubb Mansion (approx. 4.2 miles away); Rhoads Opera House Fire (approx. 4.2 miles away); Colebrookdale Furnace (approx. 4.3 miles away).
 
Regarding Falkner Swamp Reformed Church. Falkner Swamp Reformed Church is one of 445 American Presbyterian and Reformed Historical Sites registered between 1973 and 2003 by the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS), headquartered in Philadelphia. Approved sites received a metal plaque featuring John Calvin’s seal and the site’s registry number (PHS marker location unknown).

The following text is taken from the Presbyterian Historical Society website:

John Philip Boehm, Father of the German Reformed Church in America, celebrated Holy Communion and organized the Falkner Swamp Reformed Church in October 1725. The oldest continuing German Reformed congregation in the United States, Falkner Swamp now is in the United Church of Christ. The congregation erected its first building at least by the 1740s. During the Revolutionary War Battle of Pottsgrove, it was used as an army hospital and General Anthony Wayne
Falkner Swamp Reformed Church Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, June 29, 2015
2. Falkner Swamp Reformed Church Marker
had his headquarters in the parsonage. A son of Falkner Swamp, Rev. Benjamin Schneider, went to Turkey in 1842 -- the first American German Reformed missionary abroad. The present building was erected 1790.
 
Falkner Swamp Reformed Church image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, June 29, 2015
3. Falkner Swamp Reformed Church
Falkner Swamp Reformed Church sign image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Don Morfe, June 29, 2015
4. Falkner Swamp Reformed Church sign
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,594 times since then and 104 times this year. Last updated on August 26, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 3, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

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Mar. 19, 2024