Songs and Stories of a Civil War Hospital

07/25/2026

Commemoration of Closing the Hospital- Christ’s Church Field Hospital
When the great armies moved on after the fierce fighting in Gettysburg July 1-4th, 1863, they took with them virtually every soldier capable of continuing the fight including the walking wounded, and in this small community of 2,400 people they left behind more than 21,000 severely wounded soldiers distributed across 160 local field hospitals. Christ’s Church, the College Church, was designated as a hospital early on July 1st. In the battle aftermath, the Army began moving the ambulatory and less severely wounded to its triage hospital Camp Letterman. By early August the hospital at Christ Church still had 78 resident patients the last of whom was moved and the field hospital at Christ’s Church closed on August 15th, 1863.
August 15th 2026 at 7pm at Christ Church, 30 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg, there will be a commemorative edition of Songs and Stories of a Civil War Hospital including songs, readings, poetry, the striking of the scenes and the reading of each name for whom we have evidence of their presence in the hospital.
The program concludes with the presentation of a 34-star flag and singing our National Anthem. Everyone is welcome to join this solemn occasion- no ticket is necessary.

07/09/2026

Premier Event: Closing of Christ’s Church Hospital…
After the battle of Gettysburg, the Union Army began the slow process of moving the 20,000+ wounded from the 160 field hospitals around Gettysburg to bigger facilities.
The last soldier was moved from Christ’s Church hospital to Camp Letterman on August 15th, 1863, and CELC began the long journey back to ‘normalcy.’
On Saturday August 15th, 2026, We will be commemorating the closing of the hospital at Christ Church. We remember the brave souls who suffered here and those who cared for them by Premiering “Songs and Stories for the Closing” of the hospital. This day-long event will include: (Noon-3pm) Hospitality Open House with refreshments and the retiring of the hospital flag, and an evening (7pm) of songs, poetry, and stories including the stripping of the scene and naming of the men whose names we know, who were treated and cared for here. Your smile is your ticket! This event is like no other we have done here at CELC; don’t miss it!

06/26/2026

July 4th! The church will host an open house from noon-3pm then at 7pm the Anniversary performance of Songs and Stories of a Civil War hospital. This year we are featuring Kathleen Mouraneen (from the movie Gettysburg) and the poem Roll Call in our program. We will reprise "Your Soldier" where each attendee gets a randomly selected name for which they can learn the fate after the performance. This is one event not to miss. The performance is free, an offering is part of the program. Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Gettysburg , 30 Chambersburg St. Gettysburg. 7pm

05/18/2026

We are teaming with the Juneteenth Commemoration in Gettysburg to present Songs and Stories for Juneteenth. A special version of the program which nclude a Choral Prelude, messages fro Thaddeus Stevens, Mag Palm and Sojourner Truth and a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation. All this will happen on June 20th - including open house from 2-3pm and the program immediately from 3-4pm. As always, no ticket but an opportunity to support the program. This event includes an opportunity to share your reflections with the Time Capsule project.

11/15/2025

Tonight is the big night! 7pm Remembrance Performance of Songs and Stories of a Civil War Hospital. This being our 26th anniversary (really 25th since we were on hiatus for the pandemic) Tonight will be special. A bit of new poetry, Stearns conversation with the North Carolinian and Nurse Ehler's interaction with Maurice Buckingham.
All tied up with live music conducted by our cantor and accompanied by her violinist husband! It will be worth the admission - which is free! Come and see 30 Chambersburg St, Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Gettysburg the college church.

07/21/2025

07/05/2025

Tonight at 7pm (30 Chambersburg St. Gettysburg) the hospital returns and Enos Vail tells his harrowing story being denied care, then of 'stand up' surgery - and his escapades with John Ovendorf.
Mary McAllister makes an appearance and Nurse Ehler's story is punctuated by a moving Whitman poem. All embellished by live music and delightful 19th century attire. Come out! it is free (offering accepted) and you'll have a soldier for the evening!

06/27/2025

Friends, We are very nearly set for our Anniversary presentation of Songs and Stories of a Civil War hospital! We are reviving Mary McAllister and Enos Vail for this performance. It promises to be a dazzler! As always, the event happens at 30 Chambersburg St. Gettysburg, Christ Lutheran, the College Church. Prelude music at 7:00pm with program in the sanctuary at 7:30pm. No cost, contributions accepted. All are welcome!

05/12/2025

Please join us at 7:00pm on June 21 at Christ Lutheran Church for a special program in honor of Juneteenth, the national holiday commemorating the announcement made by Union General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, that President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation would be enforced there. Our program celebrating this event will consist of period music, a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, and stories told by costumed interpreters portraying Thaddeus Stevens, Margaret Palm, and Elizabeth Butler—a few of the people who fought against slavery and for freedom here in Civil War Era Adams County. We look forward to welcoming you for this edition of Songs and Stories!

04/11/2025

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This is "Songs of the Civil War" by Steve Rhodes on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.