Egg Hill Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1860 in Penns Valley, Centre County, Pennsylvania, this single-storey banked church of pine on a stone foundation replaced an earlier church. Its random-width vertical boards and battened front and sides contrast with shiplap construction at the rear, and nine-over-nine windows with louvered shutters light each side. The steeple has been removed because of deterioration. Members of the Evangelical Association, founded in 1800 by Jacob Albright, built it, and the Egg Hill class dates from about 1810. Its importance rests on the early German-settler craftsmanship it shows and on its ties to the church's early growth: camp meetings held on Egg Hill, the 1830 Fourth General Conference held at the home of John Adam Hennig, and missionary Adam Hennig's 1816 posting to Ohio. The building is regarded as an outstanding example of early country meeting houses in the region. Regular services ended in 1927; an annual Homecoming service is still held there.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an outstanding example of early country churches and meeting houses in the region, and that its simple, sturdy construction reflects the craftsmanship of early German settlers. It also ties the building to the early growth of the Evangelical Association, including camp meetings held on Egg Hill and the 1830 Fourth General Conference held at the home of John Adam Hennig.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79002189, listed June 4, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Spring Mills on Egg Hill Rd., Potter Township, Spring Mills |
|---|---|
| County | Centre County |
| Listed | June 4, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002189 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed and regular services suspended since 1927; an annual Homecoming service is the only service held in the church. |
| Acreage | 2.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.82834, -77.62524 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79002189.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5347814
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.