Built 1843 Opened 1843 Added to NRHP 13 April 1973 | NRHP Reference # 73001645 Area 8,000 m² | |
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Location Maple Ave., Harleysville, Pennsylvania | ||
The Klein Meetinghouse is a historic Dunkard (Schwarzenau Brethren or Church of the Brethren) meetinghouse in Harleysville, Pennsylvania built in 1843. The second oldest congregation of the Brethren in the United States, which was founded in the area in 1720, built the meetinghouse, and the adjoining cemetery contains the remains of Peter Becker, who led the Brethren to America in 1714.
The meetinghouse reflects the belief in simplicity held by the Brethren and similar Pietist and Anabaptist churches in early America. The building is a single story, wood framed structure with a shingled roof. Two doorways lead inside, the central doorway for the men, and the doorway for the women to the right. The interior is just as simple and is without an altar, lectern, pulpit, candle, or stained glass. A central post is similar to those in other Anabaptist meetinghouses of the period. The central piece of furniture is known as the Liebsmaltisch, or Love Feast Table, used for the Lovefeast on Maundy Thursday.