St. Paul Lutheran Church
156 West Washington Street, Strasburg, VA
St. Paul Lutheran Church is older than our nation; it established the area's first school; the Union Army nearly destroyed it; and its baptismal font was assembled like a jigsaw puzzle. German settlers from Pennsylvania organized St. Paul (ca. 1747), with church records dating back to 1769.
The congregation holds a land grant document (ca. 1771) signed by Lord Fairfax for 200 acres west of Strasburg. This property was sold to purchase the land the church currently occupies. The initial church was a log structure. The first school was conducted by the congregation and schoolmaster, Simon Harr, who also acted as a spiritual leader. The school operated from 1778 until 1815.
In 1844, the congregation built a brick church, one of the first in the area. During the Civil War, both sides occupied the building. It served as an arsenal, stable, and hospital. The damage was so severe that the church elders requested government reimbursement. That money was used to construct the bell tower. The educational wing was added in 1954. Perhaps the most significant change was turning the church nave to face Washington Street in 1984.