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Rev Justus Falckner

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Rev Justus Falckner

Birth
Crimmitschau, Landkreis Zwickau, Saxony, Germany
Death
1723 (aged 50–51)
Newburgh, Orange County, New York, USA
Burial
Burial Details Unknown. Specifically: Unknown location Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Lutheran pastor ordained in America, Nov. 24, 1703 at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes) Church, Philadelphia, PA.

Served as pastor at eleven congregations in New York and three in New Jersey. His congregations, especially in New York, were comprised of Europeans of various countries, African-Americans and American Indians. He could therefore be considered the first Lutheran home missionary in America.

Author of "Grondlycke Onderricht", published in New York City by William Bradford in 1708. This is considered the first Lutheran catechism produced in America. It was written in Dutch and has been translated into English as "Fundamental Instruction" by Martin Kessler.

He was a hymnist, composing hymns while a student at the University of Halle in 1697.

For a complete, if somewhat questionable, biography, see Julius Friedrich Sachse's "Justus Falckner: Mystic and Scholar". Philadelphia: Printed for the Author, 1903. A newer biography by Kim-Eric Williams is available entitled, "The Journey of Justus Falckner". Delhi, NY: ALPB, 2003. For additional material, see Harry J. Kreider's "Justus Falckner", which was first printed in a souvenir program for the 250th anniversary of Falckner's ordination and was reprinted in Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, Volume 27, No.2 (July 1954), p.86-94.
Lutheran pastor ordained in America, Nov. 24, 1703 at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes) Church, Philadelphia, PA.

Served as pastor at eleven congregations in New York and three in New Jersey. His congregations, especially in New York, were comprised of Europeans of various countries, African-Americans and American Indians. He could therefore be considered the first Lutheran home missionary in America.

Author of "Grondlycke Onderricht", published in New York City by William Bradford in 1708. This is considered the first Lutheran catechism produced in America. It was written in Dutch and has been translated into English as "Fundamental Instruction" by Martin Kessler.

He was a hymnist, composing hymns while a student at the University of Halle in 1697.

For a complete, if somewhat questionable, biography, see Julius Friedrich Sachse's "Justus Falckner: Mystic and Scholar". Philadelphia: Printed for the Author, 1903. A newer biography by Kim-Eric Williams is available entitled, "The Journey of Justus Falckner". Delhi, NY: ALPB, 2003. For additional material, see Harry J. Kreider's "Justus Falckner", which was first printed in a souvenir program for the 250th anniversary of Falckner's ordination and was reprinted in Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly, Volume 27, No.2 (July 1954), p.86-94.

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