Preaching Bench

Furniture

-

Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center

Name/Title

Preaching Bench

Entry/Object ID

0044.001

Description

Bishop Peter Burkholder, early 1800s. This preaching bench was built c. 1826 by Mennonite Bishop Peter Burkholder, Jr. (1773-1846), for use in the first Weaver's Church building (at the Burkholder's congregation). Peter and his son, Martin, who built the Civil War-era farmhouse, both used this bench. The bench was used until 1881. Before his death in 2004, Peter's great-great-great-grandson, R. Dewitt Burkholder requested that the bench be donated to the Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center. Dewitt is pictured here with the bench in the brick Civil War-era farmhouse in 2003.

Use

Weavers Church (originally known as Burkholders Church). Early Brethren and Mennonite meetinghouses had a preacher's table at floor level in the front, which the ministers sat behind.

Collection

Weaver's Church bicentennial collection

Cataloged By

Sherrie R. Johndrow

Category

Religious

Acquisition

Accession

0044

Source or Donor

R. Dewitt Burkholder

Acquisition Method

Gift

Source (if not Accessioned)

R. Dewitt Burkholder

Made/Created

Artist

Bishop Peter Burkholder

Date made

circa 1826

Time Period

19th Century, Early 19th Century

Place

Region

Shenandoah Valley

State/Province

Virginia

Continent

North America

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Pulpit

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Religious Objects

Nomenclature Class

Ceremonial Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Material

Wood

Location

Room

Big Room

Building

Weaver-Brunk Log House

Inventory

Inventory Project

INV2026.1

Inventoried By

Hannah Hendricks

Inventoried Date

Jun 17, 2026

Inventory Project

INV2025.1

Inventoried By

Hannah Hendricks

Inventoried Date

Jul 17, 2025

Condition

Reason for Exam

Inventory

Overall Condition

Very Good

Date Examined

Jul 17, 2025

Provenance

Notes

Bishop Peter Burkholder Jr. (1773-1846) Bishop Martin Burkholder Bench used until 1881 Great-great-great grandson R. Dewitt Burkholder requested the bench be donated to the Center upon his death in 2004

Created By

Sherrie R. Johndrow

Create Date

September 13, 2007

Updated By

[email protected]

Update Date

July 15, 2026