The MIlls at Ephrata

Ephrata

Ephrata, a small village along the Cocalico Creek in northern Lancaster County, was founded in 1732 by Conrad Beissel, a German mystic. During the next dozen years nearly 80 celibate Brothers and Sisters followed Beissel to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ. Together they built impressive Germanic-style buildings on 250 acres of shared land.

Beissel's mystical theology embraced Sabbath worship, celibacy, adult baptism, and mutual support for sustaining daily necessities. His view that God embodied both male and female aspects led him to prescribe a lifestyle of strict self-denial and discipline as a way to achieve balanced gender roles on earth. Adopting a monastic dress and schedule, the celibate members occupied their days with periods of private meditation balanced with domestic chores, agricultural labors, and the operation of several mills. By 1745 the Brotherhood established a printing office to produce works of their own authorship and for outside customers. As exercises in discipline and expressions of faith, the members devoted time to the creation of the Gothic lettering known as Frakturschriften along withintricate penned designs, and the composition of vocal music which they performed without musical accompaniment.

Although he encouraged celibacy, Beissel welcomed families from neighborhood farms to worship with the celibates who valued their support. These Householders followed independent lives as farmers and craftsmen and numbered nearly 200 individuals in the mid-18^th-century. Following Beissel's death in 1768 the celibate population of Ephrata declined and by 1813 the last celibate member died, leaving the property and faith to the remaining Householders. The following year they created the German Seventh Day Baptist Church. Congregation members continued to live and worship at the site which came to be called the Cloister as the surrounding town of Ephrata grew around them. Membership in the German Seventh Day Baptist Church dwindled and the congregation was dissolved in 1934. In 1941 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania purchased the remaining 28 acres and nine original buildings and began restoration of the historic site.