{In the Steps of My Ancestors}: Hebron Lutheran Church

My 8th great-grandparents John Nicholas Blankenbaker and his wife, Appelonia Käfer were part of the Second Germanna Colony, which came to Virginia in 1717. I visited the Germanna Colony Visitor Center last month, and a few weeks ago we were on a trip to visit friends and were able to stop by and see the Hebron Lutheran Church, which the members of the colony started in 1740 after moving to the area.

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It is the oldest church building in continuous use as a Lutheran church in the U.S and one of four surviving wooden churches from Virginia’s colonial period.
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I wasn’t able to go inside, as we were just passing through and I hand’t called ahead. It was still so nice to see the area that they lived in though – picturesque farms and rolling hills.  It’s hard for me to believe that just one generation later, my ancestors decided to move on to Kentucky.  Really, I can’t imagine anyone wanting to leave this area!!  It belongs on a puzzle or a calendar or something. 🙂
2016-03-30_00122016-03-30_0014One pleasant surprise was the fact that the church was on the corner of Hebron Church Rd and BLANKENBAKER RD.  Their name lives on in the area. 🙂2016-03-30_0013

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