Their disciplined lifestyle required them to sleep on small benches with wooden blocks for pillows. They only slept 6 hours per night. Members of the cloister spent the majority of their time working or privately praying.

With their very positive mindset, respecting their neighbors and environment, they performed a lot of community works of charity. Being that education was very important to them, it was required that the children of the Householders were taught in German. Teaching and handing out bread to the poor were seen as major accomplishments.

As a religious sect, they kept Saturday as their Sabbath. Beissel would lead prayer services for several hours. The Ephrata Cloister were famous for their unique style of original hymns. All written in a four-part harmony, the hymns were performed a cappella.

Having the second German printing press in the American colonies, The Ephrata Cloister published the largest book of the time, “Martyrs Mirror”, which was a comprehensive history of the deaths of Christian martyrs between 4 B.C. and 1660 A.D.

Johann Conrad Beissel Died in 1768 resulting in a steady decline in membership. The last member of the sect died in 1813. The following year, the cloister was used by the German Seventh Day Baptist Church. In 1941, the 28 acres that still had remaining structures on it, was handed over to The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. During their excavations and restorations, they found ties to the American Revolution.

Today, the site is open to tourists who are interested in touring what remains of the once 250-acre community. The site attracts people who are interested in history, the unique old-world architecture and the rich religious history.