Ephrata Cloister
This was a fascinating place just outside of Lancaster, PA. The surrounding area is heavily populated by the Amish and Mennonite folks dating back to the early 18th Century. The Cloister members formed this village around 1730's by Conrad Bissell, also from German descent. They had very strict tenets of their faith, living a celibate lifestyle, living on very hours of sleep, little calorie intake, sleeping on wooden beds with wooden pillows and spending hours a day in deep prayer.
Most of the buildings are original, other than the visitor center. Many of the ceilings, doorways and rooms are low and small.
Like other religious communities, (Shakers), the Cloiser members were self sufficient.
A Typical small bedchamber for a member. Wooden beds with wooden pillows and a small table for prayer and writing.
One of the original bibles still sitting inside the church.
Community kitchen
As the community grew in membership though the mid 18th century, additional buildings and rooms were added. Several members would live communally in dorm style quarters
Original stone walls reflecting the engineering needed to construct the building.
Some of the headstones of the first members, in the German language of the members.
Resting place of Conrad Bissell, again written in German
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