Zion Lutheran Church (Baltimore) facts for kids
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Zion Lutheran Church
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Zion Lutheran Church in 2009
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| Location | 400 East Lexington Street,(original bldg. facing North Gay Street), City Hall/War Memorial Plaza, Baltimore, Maryland, 21202 |
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| Built | 1807-08 (original church, 1912-13 (western addition - "Aldersaal" [Parish House], Bell Tower, Parsonage, Gardens) |
| Architect | Strobel, Johann and Saumening, Henry |
| Architectural style | Georgian/Federal era - original church North German Hanseatic - western addition |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000960 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 30, 2011 |
The Zion Lutheran Church is a very old and important church in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. It is also known as the Zion Church of the City of Baltimore. This historic Evangelical Lutheran church was started way back in 1755.
Contents
Discovering Zion Church's History
How Zion Church Began
The church community, called a congregation, started in 1755. It was created to help German immigrants who moved to Baltimore. It also served Germans from Pennsylvania.
From the very beginning, the church offered sermons in both German and English. This tradition continues today, making it special.
Building the Church
In 1762, the congregation built its first church building. It was located on Fish Street, which is now East Fayette Street.
Later, in 1773, the church got a new set of rules. The first church building was eventually replaced. The current Zion Church building, which you can see today, was built between 1807 and 1808. It was designed in a beautiful Gothic style.
Growing and Expanding
The church grew even more in 1912 and 1913. An expansion was added to the west side of the church. This new part included a "Parish House" (called "Adlersaal"), a tall bell tower, a parsonage (where the pastor lives), and a lovely garden. This new section was designed in a style called Hanseatic North German architecture.
In the late 1920s, the area around the church changed a lot. A large open space, now known as War Memorial Plaza, was created. This plaza is across from the Baltimore City Hall. A new building for the Baltimore City Fire Department was also built nearby. It was designed to match the style of the original Zion Church.
German Language Tradition
Zion Church is unique because it has offered German-language sermons for over 250 years. It is the only church left in Maryland that still holds weekly services in German. The church also takes part in the yearly Maryland German Festival. It is a member of the German-American Citizens Association of Maryland.
Zion Church was recognized as a very important historical place in 2011. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
People Connected to Zion Church
The famous composer George Frederick Boyle was married at Zion Church.
Images for kids
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A piece of the Berlin Wall at Zion Church, Baltimore, MD. The inscription reads: "This piece of the Berlin Wall stood near Lichterfelde until broken by the sledgehammer of Mr. Rick DeLisle on November 11, 1989, at 6:50 am. Donated by WMIX 106.5 FM Baltimore and dedicated to those who crossed and those who gave their lives in the attempt."
See also
