Newport in Perry County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
— Perry County Bicentennial 1820 - 2020 —
This Newport Heritage Park location was made possible in 2015 by the generous community spirit of the congregation of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
First recorded Lutheran services were held in Newport homes and school houses by the Rev. John W. Heim as early as 1830. Preaching was done in German until 1842 when the pastor was requested to speak English also.
Formally organized in 1844 under the leadership of the Rev. Levi T. Williams, services were held at the brick school on 2nd St. From 1847 to 1874, members shared space in the town’s first formal religious edifice, the Union Church, with the Presbyterian and Reformed congregations. The Union Church was located where the 1959 Newport Post Office new stands. St. Paul’s sold their one-third interest to the Presbyterians in 1877. The Reformed Church constructed its own facility in 1868.
The St. Paul’s Romanesque style edifice was constructed in 1874 by builder Joshua Sweger for $15.000 which included land and furnishings. The auditorium could seat approximately 500 persons, which at that time was probably the largest indoor space in Perry County. St. Paul’s was the first church in the Synod of Central Pennsylvania to have a pipe organ, installed ca 1885. The current organ dates from 1912, and Maas chimes were installed in 1947.
During World War II, the decaying timbered steeple was removed, and by the late 1940s the present belfry was capped. The sanctuary contains a nativity fresco by J.H. Froehlich completed during the 1907 remodeling.
[Captions:]
Pictured is St. Paul’s with its original steeple; the former Methodist Church is in background on 4th and Market Streets. This picture taken prior to 1905 when the Pennsylvania Railroad mainline ran down 3rd Street in Newport.
The Rev. Levi T. Williams, pastor 1843-45 when the congregation formed.
In 1884 a windstorm damaged the steeple. Pictured at the top of the steeple, 125 feet off the ground doing repairs, are Daniel W. Gantt, left, and builder Joshua Sweger.
Abraham Aughe, pastor 1871-1876, when the church was constructed.
St. Paul stands as a symbol of the values of a people whose faith lives on “from age to age the same’.
Erected 2015 by Historical Society of Perry County.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Perry County Heritage Trail in Pennsylvania. series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 2015.
Location. 40° 28.607′ N, 77° 7.961′ W. Marker is in Newport, Pennsylvania, in Perry County. Marker is on Market Street. The park is located next to St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 320 Market St, Newport PA 17074, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Newport Heritage Park (here, next to this marker); The Railroad Era (here, next to this marker); The Industrial and Manufacturing Era (here, next to this marker); Floods! (here, next to this marker); The Canal Era (here, next to this marker); Newport Historic District (here, next to this marker); The Settlement of Newport (here, next to this marker); Newport's Heritage (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newport.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 313 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 19, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.