Songs and Stories of a Civil War Hospital

Songs and Stories of a Civil War Hospital Songs and Stories of A Civil War Hospital tells the authentic history of a Civil War hospital in its original setting: diaries, music, poetry and costuming

Songs and Stories of A Civil War Hospital tells the authentic history of a Civil War hospital in its original setting—Christ Lutheran Church. Songs and Stories was first performed in 1999, and has been presented Saturday evenings each summer since then, except for 2004 when the church was undergoing restoration and renovation. To date, over 14,000 people have attended Songs and Stories of a Civil

War Hospital. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. with music on the church steps (weather permitting) followed by the main program in the church nave at 8 p.m. The main program features a violin prelude, a brief history of the church, accounts of Chaplain Howell’s death and a woman’s miraculous escape into the bell tower, readings from the journals of a wounded soldier and a compassionate citizen-nurse, key passages from Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, and authentic Civil War music performed by local musicians including songs with audience participation. Books and CDs
For more information about Christ
Lutheran’s role as a Civil War hospital,
we invite you to purchase our new book,
A Sanctuary For The Wounded. Additionally, if you wish to relive
Songs and Stories of a Civil War Hospital,
we invite you to purchase a copy of our
professionally produced recording. The CD contains additional musical
selections that are not included in our
regular evening performances. Books and CDs are available for
purchase after the program and
through our web site at
www.candlelightatchrist.org. Donations
Donations are gratefully accepted. Boxes
for free-will donations are located near
the church entrance & exit. Donations and the proceeds from our
book and CDs will be used exclusively
to sustain Songs and Stories into the future. An Invitation to Worship
We invite all to worship with us in
this historic setting. Our regular
Sunday worship services, led by the
Reverend Stephen R. Herr, Pastor, begin a
t 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. A Celtic service
is offered at 6 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th
Sundays each month.

11/15/2025

Tonight is the big night! 7pm Remembrance Performance of Songs and Stories of a Civil War Hospital. This being our 26th anniversary (really 25th since we were on hiatus for the pandemic) Tonight will be special. A bit of new poetry, Stearns conversation with the North Carolinian and Nurse Ehler's interaction with Maurice Buckingham.
All tied up with live music conducted by our cantor and accompanied by her violinist husband! It will be worth the admission - which is free! Come and see 30 Chambersburg St, Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Gettysburg the college church.

07/21/2025
Tonight at 7pm (30 Chambersburg St. Gettysburg) the hospital returns and Enos Vail tells his harrowing story being denie...
07/05/2025

Tonight at 7pm (30 Chambersburg St. Gettysburg) the hospital returns and Enos Vail tells his harrowing story being denied care, then of 'stand up' surgery - and his escapades with John Ovendorf.
Mary McAllister makes an appearance and Nurse Ehler's story is punctuated by a moving Whitman poem. All embellished by live music and delightful 19th century attire. Come out! it is free (offering accepted) and you'll have a soldier for the evening!

Friends, We are very nearly set for our Anniversary presentation of Songs and Stories of a Civil War hospital! We are re...
06/27/2025

Friends, We are very nearly set for our Anniversary presentation of Songs and Stories of a Civil War hospital! We are reviving Mary McAllister and Enos Vail for this performance. It promises to be a dazzler! As always, the event happens at 30 Chambersburg St. Gettysburg, Christ Lutheran, the College Church. Prelude music at 7:00pm with program in the sanctuary at 7:30pm. No cost, contributions accepted. All are welcome!

Please join us at 7:00pm on June 21 at Christ Lutheran Church for a special program in honor of Juneteenth, the national...
05/12/2025

Please join us at 7:00pm on June 21 at Christ Lutheran Church for a special program in honor of Juneteenth, the national holiday commemorating the announcement made by Union General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, that President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation would be enforced there. Our program celebrating this event will consist of period music, a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, and stories told by costumed interpreters portraying Thaddeus Stevens, Margaret Palm, and Elizabeth Butler—a few of the people who fought against slavery and for freedom here in Civil War Era Adams County. We look forward to welcoming you for this edition of Songs and Stories!

https://youtu.be/uf3tZ--CTJQ?feature=shared
04/11/2025

https://youtu.be/uf3tZ--CTJQ?feature=shared

Gettysburg.Just the name evokes emotion, and in many, more questions than answers. This place was the site of the most important battle of the Civil War. In ...

04/06/2025

Gettysburg.Just the name evokes emotion, and in many, more questions than answers. This place was the site of the most important battle of the Civil War. In ...

03/21/2025

Friday, March 21

The Creed

The Second Article: On Redemption
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead [or, “he descended into hell,” another translation of this text in widespread use]. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father in eternity, and also a true human being, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned human being. He has purchased and freed me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death. He has done all this in order that I may belong to him, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in eternal righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.

03/20/2025

All are welcome to join in a special ‘Songs and Stories’ commemorating the 233rd birthday of Thaddeus Stevens.
In addition to supporting the construction of the college, the church building at 30 Chambersburg Street and leasing a pew; he also was actively involved in the abolition movement in Gettysburg. He was instrumental in Lincoln’s issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, and he advocated in congress for the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
On April 5th beginning at 6:30, we’ll welcome the Thaddeus Stevens Society in a Songs and Stories commemoration of his birthday. Music will begin on the Church porch, then at 7pm the program will be presented including first person narratives from Mag Palm and Thaddeus Stevens with readings from the Proclamation and the 13th amendment – as well as singing of several well-known songs of the era. If you enjoy history and singing, this is the event for you!

We wish all our friends, followers, and well the world a very merry Christmas and a prosperous 2025. Here's a little off...
12/20/2024

We wish all our friends, followers, and well the world a very merry Christmas and a prosperous 2025. Here's a little offering from us to you:

This is "Songs of the Civil War" by Steve Rhodes on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

Address

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 30 Chambersburg Street
Gettysburg, PA
17325

Opening Hours

7:30pm - 9pm

Telephone

+17173345212

Website

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