- Donegal Presbyterian Church Complex
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Donegal Presbyterian Church Complex
Location: Donegal Springs Rd., East Donegal Township, Pennsylvania Coordinates: 40°6′4″N 76°34′0″W / 40.10111°N 76.566667°WCoordinates: 40°6′4″N 76°34′0″W / 40.10111°N 76.566667°W Area: 7.5 acres (3.0 ha) Built: 1732 Architectural style: Federal Governing body: Private NRHP Reference#: 85001482[1] Added to NRHP: July 02, 1985 Donegal Presbyterian Church Complex is a historic church on Donegal Springs Road in East Donegal Township, Pennsylvania.
It was built in 1732 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.[2]
In 1777, during worship services, word came to the congregation by way of an express rider, that the British General Howe was about to invade Pennsylvania. The message relayed was that the British army had advanced and had force Washington's troops to retreat to Chad's Ford. The rider found Colonel Alexander Lowry, who was attending worship at Donegal that Sunday, and shared the news with him, to encourage Lowry to organize his men to come to General Washington's defense.
Upon learning this news, the congregation gathered around a white oak tree just outside the sanctuary. With hands joined, they vowed allegiance to the cause of the patriots, and their minister, Rev. Colin McFarquhar, who up until that time had always prayed for the King of England, united with them. From that time onward, the tree was known as the “Witness Tree.”[3]
The original Witness Tree grew and flourished for nearly three centuries, but sadly succumbed to disease. A cast iron memorial exists in its place now.[4]
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ Chiat, Marilyn Joyce Segal (1997). America's religious architecture: sacred places for every community, Preservation Press Series. John Wiley and Sons. pp. 465. ISBN 0471145025, 9780471145028. http://books.google.com/books?id=I0GviYfRKOsC&pg=PA92#v=onepage&q&f=false. p.92, note that Chiat misidentifies the county as Franklin County.
- ^ Donegal Society brochure from Donegal Presbyterian Church
- ^ http://undertheliveoak.blogspot.com/2011/03/witness-tree-church-donegal.html
External links
U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Lists by states Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • WyomingLists by territories Lists by associated states Other 
Category:National Register of Historic Places • 
Portal:National Register of Historic PlacesCategories:- Historic districts in Pennsylvania
- Buildings of religious function on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
- Churches in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
- Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Registered Historic Place stubs
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