"Old Dutchie" Church

Yesterday, after work, I finally stopped at Church on my way home. I've been meaning to stop for weeks to take a couple pictures, but the weather was bad when I had my camera and it was good when I didn't.

You probably know how that goes.


The Evangelical Congregational Church of Worcester, or Evangelisches Versemmlangs Haus was built in 1845 by German immigrants who fled to Pennsylvania to escape religious persecution. The congregation was referred to as the "Old Dutchie Church" by Worcester residents because of its German origins.

In 1961, the church was dissolved when most of the congregation merged with a larger group. The building was purchased in 1978 by the Friends of the Worcester Historical Society.


This is one of the oldest German Dunkard churches which still has a cemetery. The Dunkards were Germans that practiced baptism by "dunking" the person under water.

However, they were more commonly known as the German Baptist Brethren. In 1908, the official name became Church of the Brethren.


Dunkards practiced modesty in their dress and general lifestyle. Other Christian principles which the Dunkards stressed were: pacifism- members both North and South refused military service; the brotherhood of man, including opposition to slavery; and temperance -- total abstinence from alcohol.


Frederick K Brunner, Born 5 Sep 1816, Died 29 Oct 1882, Father


George Wagner - He Rests Here In Peace

A typical Dunkard church service supported their belief in simplicity. Hymns were sung with no musical accompaniment from organ, piano, or other instruments. The congregation was divided, with men seated on one side and women on the other. The churches were plain, with no stained glass windows, steeple, or crosses.

I peered through the plain windows and saw this was indeed the case. The lighting wasn't cooperative so the picture I took was mediocre.


Even the "deluxe facilities" looked pretty plain. But the reason I stopped to take pictures wasn't the simple and haunting beauty of the church and the cemetery, it was to visit the animals in the neighboring field.

Each morning, as I drive past, if I see them out grazing in the grass field, I think of ol' Abe and Punkn (sorry Deanna, its still Punkn to me) and her sheep.


The road to work is right beyond the fence line in the picture. The lawn mowing sheep seem oblivious to the highway noise. They really mowed the lawn too - I never saw such hungry beasties.


Momma and her new child. Don't you just think Punkn! when you see this?