Go, Do, See Lititz is a charming town located six miles north of Lancaster, PA. The heart of the town is at the intersection of Broad and Main Streets, where you will find antique shops, art galleries, cozy cafes, restaurants, and chic boutiques. The town was named after a Bohemian castle and founded by members of the Moravian Church in 1749. The Moravian influence in the town of Lititz is still relevant today.
Experience The Mo
History
Thought to be the oldest Photo By protestant denominaRobin O’Neal Smith tion in the world, Eighteenth-century Moravians left Germany to serve as missionaries around the globe, including parts of Pennsylvania. Count Nicholas Ludwig Von Zinzendorf left Germany to come to the new world where religious freedom was allowed. He met with Ben Franklin and reached an agreement to establish a free Moravian movement in Pennsylvania. Inspired by the Moravian settlements in Bethlehem and Nazareth, Lititz was formed. The Moravian motto “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, freedom; and in all things, love” was appealing to early settlers in Lancaster County. The religious, social, cultural, and economic life was under the direction of the church leaders. The goal was to have an environment free of “worldly influences.”
The Buildings
Over the years, five different buildings served as their place of worship. The present Lititz Moravian Church building was built in 1787. In 1957 much -44- | ExtendedWeekendGetaways ~ March, 2022
of the sanctuary was destroyed in a fire. The “prophetic style” sanctuary was carefully restored the following year. An open Holy Bible rests on a high pulpit with a stained-glass window of the Moravian Seal, and Motto is behind it. To the side and rear of the church near the cemetery is Leichen Kappelchen (Corpse House), constructed in 1786 as a place to keep the bodies of deceased members until burial. Last used in 1935, It is one of the architectural gems of Lancaster County. Beside the church is the Single Sisters’ House and the Single Brothers’ House. Adult singles often chose to live there for camaraderie and vocational training. George Washington commandeered the Brothers’ House to serve as a hospital for hundreds of wounded soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Today the Brothers’ House is home to a chapel, a fellowship hall, offices, a lounge, kitchen, and dining room. The Single Sisters’ House is now a part of the campus of Linden Hall School For Girls. It is the nation’s oldest all-girls boarding school.
