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Blough Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA) was the first Mennonite church established in Conemaugh Township, [[Somerset County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Somerset County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. Located near Davidsville, it had its origin after Jacob Blough was ordained to the ministry in 1804. He was ordained bishop in 1814. The congregation was using its fourth building in the 1950s, three of them having been on the present grounds. The congregation belonged to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference (now [[Allegheny Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Allegheny Mennonite Conference]]) and was the first to entertain the conference after its organization in 1876. Harry C. Blough, bishop, and John A. Lehman, minister, served this congregation of 221 members in 1953. In 2007 there were 102 members.
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The Blough Mennonite Church was the first Mennonite church established in Conemaugh Township, [[Somerset County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Somerset County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. Located near Davidsville, it originated after Jacob Blough was ordained to the ministry in 1804. Blough was ordained as [[Bishop|bishop]] in 1814. Initially, the congregation met in homes.
  
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In 2015 the Blough Mennonite Church left the [[Allegheny Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Allegheny Mennonite Conference]] and joined the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]]. This move was part of a larger realignment of Mennonite congregations formerly part of [[Mennonite Church USA]]. These congregations were unhappy with Mennonite Church USA's failure to take stronger disciplinary actions against area conferences and congregations who expressed openness to inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. The Lancaster Mennonite Conference took action in 2015 to withdraw from Mennonite Church USA by the end of 2017, and became an attractive alternative for these congregations.   
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The congregation initially included all Mennonites living in Conemaugh Township and was known as the Conemaugh Church, with three or four meeting places for the widely scattered families. Blough was the first meetinghouse, built in 1836 on the corner of the Jacob Blough farm. The others were [[Crossroads Community Church (Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Weaver]] (1855), [[Thomas Mennonite Church (Holsopple, Pennsylvania, USA)|Thomas]] (1874), and [[Stahl Mennonite Church (Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA)|Stahl]] (1882). Initially, services were held every four weeks, then every two weeks for many years. The Blough meetinghouse was the location of the meeting that organized the Southwestern Pennsylvania Mennonite Conference (later Allegheny Mennonite Conference) in 1876.
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The language of worship changed from German to English in about 1885. Sunday school began in 1890 but was not held year-round until 1915. Young People's Bible Meeting began in 1912. Summer Bible School began in 1929.
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The Blough congregation built a new frame meetinghouse in 1860 near the site of the first building. On 24 October 1909, it dedicated its third meetinghouse--the first one with a full basement. It added electric lights and steam heat in 1921, and in 1949 a new entrance and indoor washrooms.
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In 2018, the average Sunday morning attendance was 40.
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In 2015 the Blough Mennonite Church left the [[Allegheny Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Allegheny Mennonite Conference]] and joined the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Mennonite Conference]]. This move was part of a more extensive realignment of Mennonite congregations formerly part of [[Mennonite Church USA]]. These congregations were unhappy with Mennonite Church USA's failure to take stronger disciplinary actions against area conferences and congregations that expressed openness to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. The Lancaster Mennonite Conference took action in 2015 to withdraw from Mennonite Church USA by the end of 2017 and became an attractive alternative for these congregations.   
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= Bibliography =
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Blauch, D. D. "The Bloughs (Blauchs) and the Mennonite Church." ''Gospel Herald'' 1, no. 25 (19 September 1908): 393.
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Coffman, J. S. "The church in Western Pennsylvania." ''Herald of Truth'' 19, no. 4 (15 February 1882): 58-59.
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"Congregational profile: Blough Mennonite Church." ''Shalom News'' 38, no. 4 (October-December 2018): 8.
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"From the Conemaugh Church, Somerset Co., Pa." ''Herald of Truth 20, no. 2 (15 January 1883): 24.
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Shetler, Sanford G. ''Two centuries of struggle and growth 1763-1963: a history of Allegheny Mennonite Conference.'' Scottdale, Pa.: Allegheny Mennonite Conference, 1963: 106-112.
 
= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
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'''Address:''' 794 Woodstown Highway, Hollsopple, Pennsylvania
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'''Address''':  
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'''Meeting Place''': 794 Woodstown Highway, Hollsopple, Pennsylvania 15935
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'''Telephone''': 814-479-7566
  
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'''Phone:''' 814-479-7566
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'''Website''': https://www.facebook.com/groups/282432289389310 (private group)
  
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'''Denominational Affiliations:'''
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'''Denominational Affiliations''':
  
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[https://www.lancasterconference.org/ Lancaster Mennonite Conference]
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[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]
  
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= Maps =
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[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2017)
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[[Map:Blough Mennonite Church (Holsopple, Pennsylvania)|Map:Blough Mennonite Church (Holsopple, Pennsylvania)]]
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== Pastoral Leaders at Blough Mennonite Church ==
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 1, p. 366|date=1953|a1_last=Kaufman|a1_first=Ammon|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Name !! Years<br/>of Service
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|-
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| Jacob Blough II (1775-1849)<br />(Bishop) || 1804-1814<br />1814-1849
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|-
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| Jacob Blough III (1801-1878) || 1830-1878
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|-
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| Samuel Blough (1803-1877)<br />(Bishop) || 1843-1850<br />1850-1877
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|-
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| Peter A. Blough (1843-1924) || 1875?-1885
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|-
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| Samuel Gindlesperger (1846-1909) || 1878-1909
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|-
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| Jonas Blaugh/Blough (1830-1906)(Bishop) || 1885-1906
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|-
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| Simon Layman (1851-1928) || 1887-1928
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|-
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| Levi A. Blough (1855-1936) || 1890-1936
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|-
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| Stephen D. Yoder (1868-1937) || 1900-1908
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|-
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| Elmer J. Blough (1878-1957) || 1909-1912
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|-
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| Harry C. Blough (1895-1978)<br />(Bishop) || 1920-1947<br />1947-1974
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|-
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| John A. Lehman (1905-1991) || 1936-1962
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|-
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| Elvin L. Holsopple (1920-2010) || 1963-1974
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|-
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| Winston J. Martin || 1974-1976?
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|-
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| David E. Mishler || 1977-1991
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|-
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| Loren L. Johns || 1977-1985
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|-
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| Richard H. Mininger || 1991-2002?
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|-
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| Robert Simonsick || 2002?-2004?
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|-
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| S. David Garber || 2004?-2010?
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|-
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| Eric Charles Lasure || 2008?-
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|}
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== Blough Mennonite Church Membership ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
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|-
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! Year !! Members
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|-
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| 1907 || 121
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|-
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| 1913 || 171
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|-
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| 1920 || 188
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|-
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| 1930 || 190
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|-
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| 1940 || 231
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|-
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| 1950 || 216
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|-
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| 1960 || 200
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|-
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| 1970 || 132
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|-
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| 1980 || 128
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|-
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| 1990 || 106
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|-
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| 2000 || 109
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|-
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| 2009 || 102
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|}
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= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =
  
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By Ammon Kaufman. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 1, p. 366. All rights reserved.
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Blough Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA) was the first Mennonite church established in Conemaugh Township, [[Somerset County (Pennsylvania, USA)|Somerset County]], [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. Located near Davidsville, it had its origin after Jacob Blough was ordained to the ministry in 1804. He was ordained bishop in 1814. The congregation was using its fourth building in the 1950s, three of them having been on the present grounds. The congregation belonged to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference (now [[Allegheny Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Allegheny Mennonite Conference]]) and was the first to entertain the conference after its organization in 1876. Harry C. Blough, bishop, and John A. Lehman, minister, served this congregation of 221 members in 1953.
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=October 2024|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
 
[[Category:Churches]]
 
[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:Allegheny Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
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[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
 
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
 
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
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[[Category:Allegheny Mennonite Conference Congregations‏‎]]
 
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[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
 
 
[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
 
[[Category:Pennsylvania Congregations]]
 
[[Category:United States Congregations]]
 
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 14:05, 23 October 2024

The Blough Mennonite Church was the first Mennonite church established in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Located near Davidsville, it originated after Jacob Blough was ordained to the ministry in 1804. Blough was ordained as bishop in 1814. Initially, the congregation met in homes.

The congregation initially included all Mennonites living in Conemaugh Township and was known as the Conemaugh Church, with three or four meeting places for the widely scattered families. Blough was the first meetinghouse, built in 1836 on the corner of the Jacob Blough farm. The others were Weaver (1855), Thomas (1874), and Stahl (1882). Initially, services were held every four weeks, then every two weeks for many years. The Blough meetinghouse was the location of the meeting that organized the Southwestern Pennsylvania Mennonite Conference (later Allegheny Mennonite Conference) in 1876.

The language of worship changed from German to English in about 1885. Sunday school began in 1890 but was not held year-round until 1915. Young People's Bible Meeting began in 1912. Summer Bible School began in 1929.

The Blough congregation built a new frame meetinghouse in 1860 near the site of the first building. On 24 October 1909, it dedicated its third meetinghouse--the first one with a full basement. It added electric lights and steam heat in 1921, and in 1949 a new entrance and indoor washrooms.

In 2018, the average Sunday morning attendance was 40.

In 2015 the Blough Mennonite Church left the Allegheny Mennonite Conference and joined the Lancaster Mennonite Conference. This move was part of a more extensive realignment of Mennonite congregations formerly part of Mennonite Church USA. These congregations were unhappy with Mennonite Church USA's failure to take stronger disciplinary actions against area conferences and congregations that expressed openness to the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. The Lancaster Mennonite Conference took action in 2015 to withdraw from Mennonite Church USA by the end of 2017 and became an attractive alternative for these congregations.

Bibliography

Blauch, D. D. "The Bloughs (Blauchs) and the Mennonite Church." Gospel Herald 1, no. 25 (19 September 1908): 393.

Coffman, J. S. "The church in Western Pennsylvania." Herald of Truth 19, no. 4 (15 February 1882): 58-59.

"Congregational profile: Blough Mennonite Church." Shalom News 38, no. 4 (October-December 2018): 8.

"From the Conemaugh Church, Somerset Co., Pa." Herald of Truth 20, no. 2 (15 January 1883): 24.

Shetler, Sanford G. Two centuries of struggle and growth 1763-1963: a history of Allegheny Mennonite Conference. Scottdale, Pa.: Allegheny Mennonite Conference, 1963: 106-112.

Additional Information

Address:

Meeting Place: 794 Woodstown Highway, Hollsopple, Pennsylvania 15935

Telephone: 814-479-7566

Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/282432289389310 (private group)

Denominational Affiliations:

LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches

Mennonite Church USA (Until 2017)

Pastoral Leaders at Blough Mennonite Church

Name Years
of Service
Jacob Blough II (1775-1849)
(Bishop)		 1804-1814
1814-1849
Jacob Blough III (1801-1878) 1830-1878
Samuel Blough (1803-1877)
(Bishop)		 1843-1850
1850-1877
Peter A. Blough (1843-1924) 1875?-1885
Samuel Gindlesperger (1846-1909) 1878-1909
Jonas Blaugh/Blough (1830-1906)(Bishop) 1885-1906
Simon Layman (1851-1928) 1887-1928
Levi A. Blough (1855-1936) 1890-1936
Stephen D. Yoder (1868-1937) 1900-1908
Elmer J. Blough (1878-1957) 1909-1912
Harry C. Blough (1895-1978)
(Bishop)		 1920-1947
1947-1974
John A. Lehman (1905-1991) 1936-1962
Elvin L. Holsopple (1920-2010) 1963-1974
Winston J. Martin 1974-1976?
David E. Mishler 1977-1991
Loren L. Johns 1977-1985
Richard H. Mininger 1991-2002?
Robert Simonsick 2002?-2004?
S. David Garber 2004?-2010?
Eric Charles Lasure 2008?-

Blough Mennonite Church Membership

Year Members
1907 121
1913 171
1920 188
1930 190
1940 231
1950 216
1960 200
1970 132
1980 128
1990 106
2000 109
2009 102

Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article

By Ammon Kaufman. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 366. All rights reserved.

Blough Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA) was the first Mennonite church established in Conemaugh Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Located near Davidsville, it had its origin after Jacob Blough was ordained to the ministry in 1804. He was ordained bishop in 1814. The congregation was using its fourth building in the 1950s, three of them having been on the present grounds. The congregation belonged to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Conference (now Allegheny Mennonite Conference) and was the first to entertain the conference after its organization in 1876. Harry C. Blough, bishop, and John A. Lehman, minister, served this congregation of 221 members in 1953.


Author(s) Samuel J Steiner
Date Published October 2024

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steiner, Samuel J. "Blough Mennonite Church (Holsopple, Pennsylvania, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. October 2024. Web. 28 Oct 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Blough_Mennonite_Church_(Holsopple,_Pennsylvania,_USA)&oldid=179941.

APA style

Steiner, Samuel J. (October 2024). Blough Mennonite Church (Holsopple, Pennsylvania, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 28 October 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Blough_Mennonite_Church_(Holsopple,_Pennsylvania,_USA)&oldid=179941.



©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

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