Historical society recreates Civil War era church service in Hanover

Rev. James Banach of New Freedom conducts a Civil War themed sermon Sunday morning on the back lawn of the historic NEAS House in Hanover. (THE EVENING SUN SHANE DUNLAP)

The Rev. James Banach of New Freedom never was an army chaplain. Until Sunday.

On Sunday, he re-created Chaplain Jim and led a service in the yard of the NEAS House on Chestnut Street as if the Battle of Hanover were over, but the bloodshed at Gettysburg had yet to begin.

?We need to remember the battle fought this day and the battle yet to be fought,? Banach said.

A former pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Parkton, Md., Banach said he has always been fascinated with the Civil War. He enjoys reading about strategy, but he would rather read diaries and letters to learn what was happening in the hearts of soldiers.

The order of service was adapted from a Civil War soldiers' prayer book. The

Re-enactor C.R. Woodworth from Seven Valleys listens to the sermon by Rev. James Banach on Sunday morning at the historic NEAS House. (THE EVENING SUN SHANE DUNLAP)

congregation sang popular period hymns: ?Holy, Holy, Holy,? ?Amazing Grace,? and ?A Mighty Fortress is our God.?

A dozen people congregated, including re-enactors who camped in the yard and members of the Hanover Area Historical Society.

?We cannot win the victory in our own power or strength, which is perhaps why we've been so unsuccessful against Gen. Lee,? Banach told the soldiers and civilians.

By focusing our attentions on the tragedy and strategy of the war, Banach said, we often forget the impact religion had on soldiers.

The Civil War was a time revivals and passionately held religious views on both sides. Even before they faced death every day, prayer was a daily part of life for most soldiers.

Banach said he doesn't preach from the Old Testament very often, but Civil War chaplains did quite frequently. In his sermon, he likened the plight of Civil War soldiers to the ancient Israelites after they entered the Promised Land. Joshua asks why God sent them to a new land in order to be destroyed by their enemies.

Several dozen of Joshua's men were killed scouting the land of Ai. Speaking to soldiers on the way to Gettysburg, Banach reassured

A group gathers with re-enactors at the historic NEAS House in Hanover on Sunday morning for a Civil War church service. (THE EVENING SUN SHANE DUNLAP)

the soldiers:

?Even if you do not rise from this ground, Jesus already has a place for you in his kingdom.?

sfleischman@eveningsun.com; 717-637-3736, ext. 151; Twitter: @sefleischman

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Source: http://www.eveningsun.com/gettysburg150/ci_23569441/historical-society-recreates-civil-war-era-church-service?source=rss

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