Blackburn near Newton in Catawba County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Grace Union Church Reformed and Lutheran
Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 6, 2020
1. Grace Union Church Reformed and Lutheran Marker
Grace Union Church
Reformed and Lutheran
Organized 1797 - Separated 1940
Grace Evangelical ad Reformed
Congregation 1940-1969
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.
Location. 35° 35.942′ N, 81° 19.005′ W. Marker is near Newton, North Carolina, in Catawba County. It is in Blackburn. It is at the intersection of Hickory Lincolnton Highway and Grace Church Road, on the left when traveling north on Hickory Lincolnton Highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4536 Hickory Lincolnton Hwy, Newton NC 28658, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lieutenant John Hoyle (within shouting distance of this marker); Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church (approx. 1.7 miles away); Startown School (approx. 3.9 miles away); Salem Lutheran & United Church of Christ (approx. 4.6 miles away); Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (approx. 5 miles away); Pottery Industry (approx. 5 miles away); Daniels Church (approx. 5.7 miles away); Andrew Loretz (approx. 5.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newton.
Regarding Grace Union Church Reformed and Lutheran. Excerpts from the Grace Union Church and Cemetery Nomination Form:
The Germans who settled the western piedmont of North Carolina in the mid-eighteenth century came mostly from Pennsylvania along the Great Wagon Road. Divided primarily into three religious sects, Moravian, Lutheran, and Reformed, they shared a common origin, language, and cultural tradition. The Moravians formed a separate community while the Lutherans and Reformed usually settled together. Because of the sparse population and the scarcityof 'ministers, Lutherans and Reformed frequently erected a a single house of worship known as a union church where the congregations alternated services. Grace Church was begun in that tradition.Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 6, 20202. Grace Union Church Reformed and Lutheran Marker
In 1796 German residents of the South Fork Valley of the Catawba River, in that part of Lincoln County that became Catawba County in 1842, held a meeting to discuss the need for a church and regular worship services. Samuel Jarrett, a Lutheran, offered to sell a tract of land for the purpose of building a house of worship thereon." On January 11, 1797, Jarrett transferred a fraction over three acres to John Yoder and John Huffman, trustee, for $8.00. Construction of a log church, 25 x 30 feet and two stories high, began soon afterwards. Local tradition claims that difficulties in obtaining materials and a shortage of labor delayed completion for two years but did not deter the people from their services. The structure was named Grace Church and was served by the Reverend Johann Gottfried Ardnt (Lutheran) and the Reverend Andrew Loretz (Reformed), pioneer ministers who served most of the German churches west of the Catawba River...
Early in1857 Joseph Irby was contracted to do the brickwork and a Mr. Harrellson for the carpentry. The cost ran to $1,400.00 and a special collection was taken during the dedication service on June 13 so that Fox and Ingold could dedicate the new church free of debt. For the next eighty-three years, Grace fulfilled the tradition of a union church, though there was some modification in 1934 when a merger created the Evangelical and Reformed Church in America.Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 6, 20203. Grace Union Church Reformed and Lutheran Marker
By 1940 the Lutheran congregation had decided to build a new church across the road. In December the two congregations agreed to divide the property whereby the Evangelical and Reformed congregation became owner of the land on which the old brick church was located. The cemetery and a small parcel of land between the cemetery and driveway remained joint property.
Also see . . . Grace Union Church and Cemetery Nomination Form (pdf). Prepared by Barbara Kooiman, complier; Laura A. W. Phillips, descriptions; Jerry L. Cross History, Catawba County Historical Association, 1989 (Submitted on November 23, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 6, 2020
4. Grace Union Church Reformed and Lutheran
Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 6, 2020
5. Grace Union Church Reformed and Lutheran
Photographed by Mark Parker, November 23, 2024
6. Monument located across the street at Grace Lutheran Church
Anno Domini 1797
Credits. This page was last revised on December 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 24, 2020, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 670 times since then and 75 times this year. Last updated on November 23, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 24, 2020, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 6. submitted on November 23, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
