Difference between revisions of "Newtown Gospel Chapel (Sarasota, Florida, USA)"

From GAMEO
Jump to navigation Jump to search
[checked revision][checked revision]
(CSV import - 20130820)
(Updated and added tables)
 
(3 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
The Newtown Gospel Chapel (Mennonite Church USA) of [[Sarasota (Florida, USA)|Sarasota]], [[Florida (USA)|Florida]], began as a mission outpost among the African Americans of [[Sarasota (Florida, USA)|Sarasota]]. Bible classes followed by Sunday school were conducted for a period of about eight months in this community by the [[Bahia Vista Mennonite Church (Sarasota, Florida, USA)|Tuttle Avenue Mennonite Church]]. In the winter of 1952-1953 a block building was constructed to seat 200. After this an addition for Sunday school classes was built. Workers were supplied by the home congregation. In the fall of 1953 Michael Shenk, of [[Denbigh (Warwick County, Virginia, USA)|Denbigh]], [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], was called to serve as pastor. He was replaced in 1956 by Mervin Shirk, of Lebanon, [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. The attendance averaged 75 in 1956. There were 12 baptized members and several more under instruction at that time. The program made progress among the African-American people and overcame many barriers. Newtown Gospel Chapel was under the [[Virginia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Virginia Mennonite Conference]], and is currently a member of the [[Southeast Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Southeast Mennonite Conference]] and the [[African American Mennonite Association|African American Mennonite Association]].
+
__TOC__
 +
The Newtown Gospel Chapel of [[Sarasota (Florida, USA)|Sarasota]], [[Florida (USA)|Florida]], began in 1952 as a mission outpost among the African Americans of [[Sarasota (Florida, USA)|Sarasota]]. Bible classes followed by [[Sunday School|Sunday school]] were conducted for a period of about eight months in this community by the [[Bahia Vista Mennonite Church (Sarasota, Florida, USA)|Tuttle Avenue Mennonite Church]].  
 +
 
 +
In the winter of 1952-1953, a block building was constructed to seat 200. After this, an addition for Sunday school classes was built. Workers were supplied by the home congregation. In the fall of 1953, Michael Shenk, of [[Denbigh (Warwick County, Virginia, USA)|Denbigh]], [[Virginia (USA)|Virginia]], was called to serve as pastor. He was replaced in 1956 by Mervin Shirk, of Lebanon, [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]]. The attendance averaged 75 in 1956. There were 12 baptized members and several more under instruction at that time. The program made progress among the African-American people and overcame many barriers.  
 +
 
 +
Newtown Gospel Chapel was initially under the [[Virginia Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Virginia Mennonite Conference]], but became a member of the [[Southeast Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Southeast Mennonite Conference]] when that conference formed in 1973. It was also a member of the [[African American Mennonite Association|African American Mennonite Association]].
 +
 
 +
In August 1976, the congregation bought a larger church building that had been for sale for a number of years.
 +
 
 +
In 2018, the Southeast Mennonite Conference withdrew from [[Mennonite Church USA]]. Subsequently, it became a bishop district of [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]]. Newtown Gospel Chapel was part of this transition.
 +
 
 +
= Bibliography =
 +
Lehman, Martin W. ''Roots & Branches: a Narrative History of the Amish and Mennonites in Southeast United States, 1892-1992, 2 vols. Telford, Pa.: Cascadia Publishing Company, 2010-2011'': v. 1: 115-117, 120, 123, 127-130, 178-179; v. 2: 38, 170-171.
  
−
In 2009 the congregation had 56 members; the pastor was Walter Lewis Crawford.
 
 
= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
−
<strong>Address</strong>: 1815 Gillespie Avenue, Sarasota, Florida
+
'''Address''': 1815 Gillespie Avenue, Sarasota, Florida  
 +
 
 +
'''Telephone''':
  
−
<strong>Phone</strong>: 941-951-6967
+
'''Website''': https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584451040757#
  
−
<strong>Denominational Affiliations</strong>:
+
'''Denominational Affiliations''':
  
−
Southeast Mennonite Conference
+
[https://lmcchurches.org/ LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches]
  
−
[http://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA]
+
[https://www.mennoniteusa.org/ Mennonite Church USA] (Until 2018)
 +
== Pastoral Leaders at Newtown Gospel Chapel ==
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|-
 +
! Name !! Years<br/>of Service
 +
|-
 +
| Myron S. Augsburger || 1952-1953
 +
|-
 +
| Henry "Michael" Shenk || 1953-1956
 +
|-
 +
| Mervin F. Shirk (1926-2000) || 1956-1966<br />1970-1981
 +
|-
 +
| Ira "I. Mark" Ross (1904-1976) || 1966-1968
 +
|-
 +
| Joseph M. Esh (1925-1996) || 1968-
 +
|-
 +
| Michael Burgman (Assistant) || 1979-1980s
 +
|-
 +
| George Kates || 1982-1985<br />1990-2002
 +
|-
 +
| Morris Hatton || 1985-1989
 +
|-
 +
| Walter Lewis Crawford || 2002-2010s
 +
|-
 +
| Alvin J. Singleton (Deacon) || 2010s-2024
 +
|-
 +
| Justin Dillard || 2024-
 +
|}
 +
== Newtown Gospel Chapel Membership ==
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
 +
|-
 +
! Year !! Members
 +
|-
 +
| 1956 || 11
 +
|-
 +
| 1960 || 22
 +
|-
 +
| 1970 || 40
 +
|-
 +
| 1980 || 55
 +
|-
 +
| 1990 || 30
 +
|-
 +
| 2000 || 30
 +
|-
 +
| 2009 || 56
 +
|}
  
−
= Maps =
+
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=January 2026|a1_last=Augsburger|a1_first=Myron S.|a2_last=Steiner|a2_first=Samuel J.}}
−
[[Map:Newtown Gospel Chapel (Sarasota, Florida)|Map:Newtown Gospel Chapel (Sarasota, Florida)]]
+
[[Category:Churches]]
−
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 3, p. 868|date=2009|a1_last=Augsburger|a1_first=Myron S.|a2_last=Steiner|a2_first=Sam }}
+
[[Category:Virginia Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
 +
[[Category:Southeast Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
 +
[[Category:LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches Congregations]]
 +
[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
 +
[[Category:Mennonite Church USA Congregations]]
 +
[[Category:Florida Congregations]]
 +
[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 12:14, 2 January 2026

The Newtown Gospel Chapel of Sarasota, Florida, began in 1952 as a mission outpost among the African Americans of Sarasota. Bible classes followed by Sunday school were conducted for a period of about eight months in this community by the Tuttle Avenue Mennonite Church.

In the winter of 1952-1953, a block building was constructed to seat 200. After this, an addition for Sunday school classes was built. Workers were supplied by the home congregation. In the fall of 1953, Michael Shenk, of Denbigh, Virginia, was called to serve as pastor. He was replaced in 1956 by Mervin Shirk, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. The attendance averaged 75 in 1956. There were 12 baptized members and several more under instruction at that time. The program made progress among the African-American people and overcame many barriers.

Newtown Gospel Chapel was initially under the Virginia Mennonite Conference, but became a member of the Southeast Mennonite Conference when that conference formed in 1973. It was also a member of the African American Mennonite Association.

In August 1976, the congregation bought a larger church building that had been for sale for a number of years.

In 2018, the Southeast Mennonite Conference withdrew from Mennonite Church USA. Subsequently, it became a bishop district of LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches. Newtown Gospel Chapel was part of this transition.

Bibliography

Lehman, Martin W. Roots & Branches: a Narrative History of the Amish and Mennonites in Southeast United States, 1892-1992, 2 vols. Telford, Pa.: Cascadia Publishing Company, 2010-2011: v. 1: 115-117, 120, 123, 127-130, 178-179; v. 2: 38, 170-171.

Additional Information

Address: 1815 Gillespie Avenue, Sarasota, Florida

Telephone:

Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584451040757#

Denominational Affiliations:

LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches

Mennonite Church USA (Until 2018)

Pastoral Leaders at Newtown Gospel Chapel

Name Years
of Service
Myron S. Augsburger 1952-1953
Henry "Michael" Shenk 1953-1956
Mervin F. Shirk (1926-2000) 1956-1966
1970-1981
Ira "I. Mark" Ross (1904-1976) 1966-1968
Joseph M. Esh (1925-1996) 1968-
Michael Burgman (Assistant) 1979-1980s
George Kates 1982-1985
1990-2002
Morris Hatton 1985-1989
Walter Lewis Crawford 2002-2010s
Alvin J. Singleton (Deacon) 2010s-2024
Justin Dillard 2024-

Newtown Gospel Chapel Membership

Year Members
1956 11
1960 22
1970 40
1980 55
1990 30
2000 30
2009 56


Author(s) Myron S. Augsburger
Samuel J. Steiner
Date Published January 2026

Cite This Article

MLA style

Augsburger, Myron S. and Samuel J. Steiner. "Newtown Gospel Chapel (Sarasota, Florida, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. January 2026. Web. 12 Feb 2026. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Newtown_Gospel_Chapel_(Sarasota,_Florida,_USA)&oldid=181412.

APA style

Augsburger, Myron S. and Samuel J. Steiner. (January 2026). Newtown Gospel Chapel (Sarasota, Florida, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 12 February 2026, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Newtown_Gospel_Chapel_(Sarasota,_Florida,_USA)&oldid=181412.



©1996-2026 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

Retrieved from "https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Newtown_Gospel_Chapel_(Sarasota,_Florida,_USA)&oldid=181412"