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First Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA), located at 900 West Market St., [[Nappanee (Indiana, USA)|Nappanee]], [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], first known as the Amish Mennonite Church and later as the West Market Street Mennonite Church. It was a member of the [[Middle District Conference (General Conference Mennonite Church)|Middle District Conference]] (now part of the [[Central District Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Central District Conference]]). Before 1923 the congregation was a member of the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]] (MC). The congregation was organized in 1875 after groups of settlers had met for worship in homes and schoolhouses since 1853. The first meetinghouse was erected in 1878, rebuilt in 1910, and remodelled in 1926 and 1955, a frame structure with a seating capacity of about 250. In 1955 the membership was 164, with Earl L. Salzman as pastor. In 2005 the membership was 87.
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=1957|a1_last=Enz|a1_first=Jacob J|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
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As early as 1853, the Amish Mennonite settlers who had entered land in this part of [[Elkhart County (Indiana, USA)|Elkhart County]], [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], USA, met in the homes for worship. In about 1854, John Ringenberg was ordained and served as the first minister of the group. When the Culp School, the first in Nappanee, was built, the group began to meet in it.
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In 1875 the group formally organized a church with 13 charter members. [[Smucker, Jonathan P. (1834-1903)|Jonathan Smucker]] served as minister until he moved from the community in 1895 and served as bishop until his death.
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For many years the church was known as the Amish Mennonite Church. After the Indiana-Michigan Conferences of the Amish Mennonites and Mennonites merged, it became known as the West Market Street Mennonite Church.
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The first church building was erected on the site of the present church in 1878. It was a small building, 34 ft. by 40 ft. In 1910 the congregation remodeled the building; it turned the old building, added an addition to the front, and put a basement under the entire building.
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The early 1920s found this church, along with other churches in the [[Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference]], in disagreement with the conference's emphasis on clothing regulations for women. In the fall of 1923, 56 members withdrew from the conference and were joined by 35 from [[North Main Street Mennonite Church (Nappanee, Indiana, USA)|North Main Street Mennonite]] to make an independent congregation. In the spring of 1924, 25 more members were added. Those wishing to remain with the Indiana-Michigan conference affiliated with the North Main Street Church. Ezra S. Mullett, the former minister at North Main Street, became the pastor at West Market Street.
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In the summer of 1926, the congregation applied for affiliation with the [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]]. Soon after that, it became known as the First Mennonite Church of Nappanee.
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Sometime between 2015 and 2020, First Mennonite Church withdrew from the [[Central District Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Central District Conference]] of [[Mennonite Church USA]] and became an independent community church. In 2023 it still retained the First Mennonite name.
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= Bibliography =
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Roth, Elva May Schrock. ''75th anniversary edition of the history of the First Mennonite Church, Nappanee, Indiana''. Nappenee, Indiana: First Mennonite Church, 1950. Available in full electronic text at: https://archive.org/details/75thanniversarye00roth_0.
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= Additional Information =
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'''Address''': 900 West Market Street, Nappanee, Indiana 46550
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'''Phone''': 574-773-7294
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'''Website''':
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'''Denominational Affiliations''':
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== Pastoral Leaders at First Mennonite Church ==
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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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| John Ringenberg (1827-1871) || 1854-1871
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|-
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| [[Smucker, Jonathan P. (1834-1903)|Jonathan P. Smucker]] (1834-1903)<br />(Bishop) || 1873-1875<br />1875-1903
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|-
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| John "Jacob" Bleile (1841-1902) || 1885-1890s
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|-
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| James Henry McGowan (1851-1927) || 1888-1927
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|-
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| Eli A. Bontrager (1861-1956) || 1900-1903
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|-
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| Levi W. Yoder (1877-1947) || 1911-1930
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|-
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| Ezra S. Mullett (1882-1981)|| 1923-1943
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|-
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| Jacob J. Enz (1919-2001) || 1944-1948
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|-
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| Rollin W. Moser (1915-2008) || 1948-1951
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|-
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| Earl L. Salzman (1895-1961) || 1951-1958
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|-
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| Seminary Students (Interim) || 1958-1959
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|-
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| Gordon R. Dyck || 1959-1964
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|-
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| Henry H. Funk (Interim) || 1964-1965
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|-
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| Harvey "Leonard" Metzker (1917-1993) || 1965-1968
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|-
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| David Braun (Interim) || 1968
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|-
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| Harry Spaeth || 1968-1977
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|-
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| Richard Yoder || 1978-1981
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|-
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| Robin K. LaRue || 1982-1989
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|-
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| Gordon Myers (Interim) || 1990
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|-
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| John M. Dey || 1990-1994
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|-
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| Gary E. Martin || 1994-1998
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|-
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| Mark W. Stahl || 1998-2006?
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|-
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| Janet Gail Brown || 2007?-2016?
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|-
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| Sebastiano "Bob" Rosa || 2015?-2019
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|-
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| Kami Coffin || 2020-present
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|}
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== Membership at First Mennonite Church ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
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|-
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! Year !! Membership
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|-
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| 1920 || 121
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|-
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| 1930 || 142
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|-
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| 1940 || 170
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|-
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| 1950 || 156
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|-
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| 1960 || 169
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|-
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| 1970 || 112
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|-
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| 1980 || 84
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|-
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| 1990 || 90
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|-
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| 2000 || 90
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|-
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| 2009 || 87
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|}
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= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =
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By Jacob J. Enz. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, p. 111. All rights reserved.
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First Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA), located at 900 West Market St., [[Nappanee (Indiana, USA)|Nappanee]], [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], first known as the Amish Mennonite Church and later as the West Market Street Mennonite Church. It was a member of the [[Middle District Conference (General Conference Mennonite Church)|Middle District Conference ]] (now part of the [[Central District Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Central District Conference]]). Before 1923 the congregation was a member of the [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]] (MC). The congregation was organized in 1875 after groups of settlers had met for worship in homes and schoolhouses since 1853. The first meetinghouse was erected in 1878, rebuilt in 1910, and remodelled in 1926 and 1955, a frame structure with a seating capacity of about 250. In 1955 the membership was 164, with Earl L. Salzman as pastor. In 2005 the membership was 87.
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=January 2023|a1_last=Roth|a1_first=Elva May Schrock|a2_last=Steiner|a2_first=Samuel J.}}
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[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
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[[Category:General Conference Mennonite Church Congregations]]
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[[Category:Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
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[[Category:Central District Conference Congregations]]
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[[Category:Independent Community Congregations]]
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[[Category:Indiana Congregations]]
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[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 15:58, 26 January 2023

As early as 1853, the Amish Mennonite settlers who had entered land in this part of Elkhart County, Indiana, USA, met in the homes for worship. In about 1854, John Ringenberg was ordained and served as the first minister of the group. When the Culp School, the first in Nappanee, was built, the group began to meet in it.

In 1875 the group formally organized a church with 13 charter members. Jonathan Smucker served as minister until he moved from the community in 1895 and served as bishop until his death.

For many years the church was known as the Amish Mennonite Church. After the Indiana-Michigan Conferences of the Amish Mennonites and Mennonites merged, it became known as the West Market Street Mennonite Church.

The first church building was erected on the site of the present church in 1878. It was a small building, 34 ft. by 40 ft. In 1910 the congregation remodeled the building; it turned the old building, added an addition to the front, and put a basement under the entire building.

The early 1920s found this church, along with other churches in the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference, in disagreement with the conference's emphasis on clothing regulations for women. In the fall of 1923, 56 members withdrew from the conference and were joined by 35 from North Main Street Mennonite to make an independent congregation. In the spring of 1924, 25 more members were added. Those wishing to remain with the Indiana-Michigan conference affiliated with the North Main Street Church. Ezra S. Mullett, the former minister at North Main Street, became the pastor at West Market Street.

In the summer of 1926, the congregation applied for affiliation with the General Conference Mennonite Church. Soon after that, it became known as the First Mennonite Church of Nappanee.

Sometime between 2015 and 2020, First Mennonite Church withdrew from the Central District Conference of Mennonite Church USA and became an independent community church. In 2023 it still retained the First Mennonite name.

Bibliography

Roth, Elva May Schrock. 75th anniversary edition of the history of the First Mennonite Church, Nappanee, Indiana. Nappenee, Indiana: First Mennonite Church, 1950. Available in full electronic text at: https://archive.org/details/75thanniversarye00roth_0.

Additional Information

Address: 900 West Market Street, Nappanee, Indiana 46550

Phone: 574-773-7294

Website:

Denominational Affiliations:

Pastoral Leaders at First Mennonite Church

Name Years
of Service
John Ringenberg (1827-1871) 1854-1871
Jonathan P. Smucker (1834-1903)
(Bishop)		 1873-1875
1875-1903
John "Jacob" Bleile (1841-1902) 1885-1890s
James Henry McGowan (1851-1927) 1888-1927
Eli A. Bontrager (1861-1956) 1900-1903
Levi W. Yoder (1877-1947) 1911-1930
Ezra S. Mullett (1882-1981) 1923-1943
Jacob J. Enz (1919-2001) 1944-1948
Rollin W. Moser (1915-2008) 1948-1951
Earl L. Salzman (1895-1961) 1951-1958
Seminary Students (Interim) 1958-1959
Gordon R. Dyck 1959-1964
Henry H. Funk (Interim) 1964-1965
Harvey "Leonard" Metzker (1917-1993) 1965-1968
David Braun (Interim) 1968
Harry Spaeth 1968-1977
Richard Yoder 1978-1981
Robin K. LaRue 1982-1989
Gordon Myers (Interim) 1990
John M. Dey 1990-1994
Gary E. Martin 1994-1998
Mark W. Stahl 1998-2006?
Janet Gail Brown 2007?-2016?
Sebastiano "Bob" Rosa 2015?-2019
Kami Coffin 2020-present

Membership at First Mennonite Church

Year Membership
1920 121
1930 142
1940 170
1950 156
1960 169
1970 112
1980 84
1990 90
2000 90
2009 87

Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article

By Jacob J. Enz. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 111. All rights reserved.

First Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church USA), located at 900 West Market St., Nappanee, Indiana, first known as the Amish Mennonite Church and later as the West Market Street Mennonite Church. It was a member of the Middle District Conference (now part of the Central District Conference). Before 1923 the congregation was a member of the Mennonite Church (MC). The congregation was organized in 1875 after groups of settlers had met for worship in homes and schoolhouses since 1853. The first meetinghouse was erected in 1878, rebuilt in 1910, and remodelled in 1926 and 1955, a frame structure with a seating capacity of about 250. In 1955 the membership was 164, with Earl L. Salzman as pastor. In 2005 the membership was 87.


Author(s) Elva May Schrock Roth
Samuel J. Steiner
Date Published January 2023

Cite This Article

MLA style

Roth, Elva May Schrock and Samuel J. Steiner. "First Mennonite Church (Nappanee, Indiana, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. January 2023. Web. 22 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=First_Mennonite_Church_(Nappanee,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=174662.

APA style

Roth, Elva May Schrock and Samuel J. Steiner. (January 2023). First Mennonite Church (Nappanee, Indiana, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=First_Mennonite_Church_(Nappanee,_Indiana,_USA)&oldid=174662.



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

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