Bergisches Land (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany)
Bergisches Land, a refugee congregation in the old duchy of Berg, east of Cologne. A group of refugees from the West Prussian congregations at Thiensdorf and Preussisch-Rosengart had held meetings about once a month since 8 November 1947, supported by Pastor Cattepoel, in Niedersessmar-Ahe near Gummersbach. The first communion service was held on 21 March 1948 when the refugees organized a new congregation and elected Fritz Marienfeld (b. 3 March 1889 at Oberkerbsweide, pastor of the Thiensdorf-Pr. Rosengart congregation since 1932) as elder, and Heinrich Pauls (b. 12 December 1906, at Markushof, of the same congregation) as secretary; another Heinrich Pauls (b. 7 December 1906, at Markushof, later lived in Gumbinnen of the same congregation) as deacon, and Karl Hoppe, Hagen, and Hermann Enss, Remscheid, both of the Danzig congregation, as leaders (Vorsteher). Marienfeld was ordained to the eldership 24 April 1949, by Rudolf van Beckerath and Pastor Cattepoel of Krefeld, and at Pentecost of that year (5 July) administered the first baptism and communion service. After 25 July 1948 occasional services have been held in the neighboring Rapperhohn, later Klein Balken, near Overath, and after 6 June 1949 also in Bad Godesberg. After 25 June 1950 a group in Hagen (Westphalia), after 23 July 1950 a group in Lennep, and after 4 March 1951 a group in Dortmund, and later groups in W. Rondorf, Horrem, Bierth, and Bolsenbach, were served with preaching service. The congregation numbered about 250 souls in 1953. -- EC
In the 17th century a number of Mennonites were living in this district, as is indicated in a letter sent from Amsterdam to "the Mennonites in Bergland." The Mennonites in this territory were aided by the Dutch Fund for Foreign Needs. -- vdZ
Bibliography
Hoop Scheffer, Jacob Gijsbert de. Inventaris der Archiefstukken berustende bij de Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente to Amsterdam, 2 vols. Amsterdam: Uitgegeven en ten geschenke aangeboden door den Kerkeraad dier Gemeente, 1883-1884: v. I, 544, 1193-1194.
Mennonitischer Gemeinde-Kalender (1951-1953).
| Author(s) | Ernst Crous |
|---|---|
| Nanne van der Zijpp | |
| Date Published | 1953 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Crous, Ernst and Nanne van der Zijpp. "Bergisches Land (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1953. Web. 19 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Bergisches_Land_(Nordrhein-Westfalen,_Germany)&oldid=54479.
APA style
Crous, Ernst and Nanne van der Zijpp. (1953). Bergisches Land (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Bergisches_Land_(Nordrhein-Westfalen,_Germany)&oldid=54479.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 279. All rights reserved.
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