The Ephrata Cloister is the historic site originally built by the German Seventh Day Baptist community founded by Conrad Beissel in 1732. German Seventh Day Baptists were (and are) doctrinally and theologically distinct from the larger General Conference of predominantly English speaking SDBs, but share the core theological commitments to the seventh day Sabbath and believers baptism by immersion. In addition, the community on the Cloister grounds was monastic, living ascetic lives filled with rigorous spiritual discipline and hard work. The celibate members of the Cloister lived in the buildings on Cloister grounds, while “Householders” who agreed doctrinally but did not wish to be celibate surrounded the property with their own farms. The last celibate member of the Cloister had passed away by 1813, though the German Seventh Day Baptists continue to exist to this day, with the lone surviving church located in Salemville, Pennsylvania.
The Cloisters themselves became the property of the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission in the early 20th century, and since then have been restored to serve as a museum to the unique religious community gathered there. Today, the Cloisters are open to visitors and offer a vision into the religious, economic, and cultural life of the German SDB community that once gathered there.
For those who are not able to visit the Cloisters in person, a recent project may provide additional helpful insight, as the Cloisters are now on YouTube. Four videos are currently in the Cloisters channel, and give useful and enlightening information about the historical background of some aspects of the life of the community. If you have questions about the Cloister, these videos might begin to provide an answer. We encourage you to check them out! If you have additional questions about the Cloisters or German SDBs, you can contact us and we can guide you to further resources!