Oldest Lutheran Church, Craigersville, VA 1740

This vintage photograph captures a significant architectural landmark located in Craigersville, Madison County, Virginia. The structure is recognized as the oldest Lutheran church in America, with its origins tracing back to 1740. The building has historical ties to a group of German families who settled in Virginia in 1713.

The church was erected in 1740 and features an organ that tradition claims was gifted by the King of Sweden, installed in 1802. This rich history makes the church not only a place of worship but also a testament to the early European influence in the region. The photograph is part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, which documents notable architectural sites throughout the Southern United States.

This image, published in Henry Irving Brocks Colonial Churches in Virginia in 1930, serves as an important reference for understanding Virginias architectural heritage and the Lutheran communitys historical roots in America.