Mount Calvary Lutheran Church facts for kids
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Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 279 Somers Rd., Luray, Virginia |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1848 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 98001068 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 3, 2008 |
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, also known as Hawksbill Church, is a very old and important Lutheran church with a cemetery next to it. It is located near the town of Luray in Page County, Virginia, United States.
History of the Church
It's not exactly known when people first started gathering for church services here. However, in 1765, a man named John Schwarbach gave 3 acres of land to Peter Painter and Jacob Shaffer, who were in charge of the church at that time.
The church had a few different names over the years. It was first called "Hoxbiehl" or "Hacksbill" (which sounds like Hawksbill). Later, it was called "Comer's Church" because so many families with the last name Comer were members. Finally, it became known as "Mount Calvary."
This church was originally a "union church." This means that people from two different Christian groups, Lutherans and Reformed, shared the building. However, they had a disagreement about using the German language for everything in the church. Because of this, the Reformed group decided to form their own separate church in 1832.
Mount Calvary Church was a very active place for worship for many years. Regular church services continued until 1959.
This church was also very important because it helped start five other churches in Page County. These churches grew directly or indirectly from the members of Mount Calvary.
Pastors Who Served
Many pastors have led the Mount Calvary Church over its long history. Here are some of them:
- Johannes Schwarbach (1765-1775)
- Paul Henkel (1784-1823 and again 1821-1822)
- James Hoffman (Reformed) (1796-1806)
- Wilhelm G. Forster (1798-1806)
- Johann Voltz (John Foltz) (1806-1810)
- Peter Schmucker (1813-1820)
- George Leidy (Reformed) (1822-1823)
- Ambrose Henkel (1823-1837)
- Jacob Stirewalt (1837-1860)
- Socrates Henkel (1860-1869)
- John Nathaniel Stirewalt (1869-1906)
- D.L. Miller (1907-1909)
- Philip Loy Snapp (1910–1921)
- Carroll Irving Morgan (1921-1925)
- Abner Lafayette Boliek (1927-1933)
- B.D. Castor (1934-1944)
- H.B. Arehart (1945-1954)
- R.H. Ebert (1956-1959)
Church Buildings Over Time
We don't know the exact year the very first church building was put up on this land. But we do know that in 1765, the land was officially given for the church.
The first church was a log building. It stood in front and to the right of where the current church is now. Even in 1937, you could still see where its foundation had been. This old log church was rectangular and had two front doors. It was used not only for church services but also as a school. There was even another two-story log building nearby that was also used as a school.
The building you see today is the third church built on this spot. It was finished in 1848. This church is a two-story building made of brick, and it has a metal gable roof (a roof that slopes down on two sides). Since it was built, the church hasn't had any big additions. Only small changes have been made inside and outside.
Next to the church, there is a small cemetery where many people from the church's history are buried. There is also an old wooden outhouse nearby. As of 2008, the church was being repaired. There was hope that it could be used for services again in the future.
Mount Calvary Church is recognized as an important historical site. It was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register on June 17, 1998. Later, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 3, 2008.
Church Records
The only church record book that still exists for Mount Calvary was started in 1817. The first entries in this book are written in German. The book is about 32 centimeters (about 12.5 inches) long and 19 centimeters (about 7.5 inches) wide. It has two parts and two title pages. In 1979, the book was owned by Harry L. Comer, who lived in Page County, Virginia.
There are at least two English translations of the pages from this old church record book:
- Finck, William J., translator. Early Records of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Page County, Virginia. St. Louis: Joseph Willard Baker, October 10, 1969.
- Wust, Klaus, translator. The Record of Hawksbill Church 1788-1850 Page County, VA. Edinburg, Virginia: Shenandoah History, 1979.
People say that an even older church record book was lost during the Civil War.
