Difference between revisions of "Preston Mennonite Church (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada)"

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[[File:PrestonMennoniteChurch2003.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Preston Mennonite Church
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[[File:PrestonMennoniteChurch2003.jpg|400px|thumb|right|''Preston Mennonite Church<br />
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Source: [http://www.brianlshantz.com/m/listings/details.php Brian L. Shantz Website]'']]
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The [[Preston (Ontario, Canada)|Preston]], [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] area (now part of the city of Cambridge) was the oldest Mennonite community in the Waterloo Region, tracing its origin to the first Caucasian settlers to arrive in this part of [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]]. In 1800 four family groups immigrated here from [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] and included an ordained deacon, Jacob Bechtel. Joseph Bechtel arrived in 1802 and was ordained as the first minister in 1804. This group of Anabaptists met in homes or [[Barns|barns]] until 1814 when they built a union or free house meetinghouse. Religious groups other than the Church of England were not allowed to build places of worship in Upper Canada until 1828 or later, thus before this time community meetinghouses were available to everyone. Because of disagreements in the early 1820's, the Anabaptists were locked out of this building by another church group using the same facility. In 1824 the Bechtel group relocated and built a new union meetinghouse. It was known as the Bechtel Appointment because of the surnames of its leadership. In 1842 this group became formally organized when a red brick meetinghouse was built just up the road beside the already established [[Cemeteries|cemetery]]. By 1848 this congregation became known as Hageys, since two of its spiritual leaders were Jacob and Joseph Hagey.
  
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Source: [http://www.brianlshantz.com/m/listings/details.php Brian L. Shantz Website]
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In 1840 the first Mennonite Sunday School in [[North America]] was organized at Hagey Mennonite, but it closed after a few years due to conservative opposition. In 1891 a permanent Sunday School was organized and classes were taught in German and English. The first English sermon was preached at Hageys in 1890 and German was not used after the 1890's.
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'']]    The Preston, Ontario area (now part of the city of Cambridge) was the oldest Mennonite community in the Waterloo Region, tracing its origin to the first Caucasian settlers to arrive in this part of [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]]. In 1800 four family groups immigrated here from [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] and included an ordained deacon, Jacob Bechtel. Joseph Bechtel arrived in 1802 and was ordained as the first minister in 1804. This group of Anabaptists met in homes or [[Barns|barns]] until 1814 when they built a union or free house meetinghouse. Religious groups other than the Church of England were not allowed to build places of worship in Upper Canada until 1828 or later, thus before this time community meetinghouses were available to everyone. Because of disagreements in the early 1820's, the Anabaptists were locked out of this building by another church group using the same facility. In 1824 the Bechtel group relocated and built a new union meetinghouse. It was known as the Bechtel Appointment because of the surnames of its leadership. In 1842 this group became formally organized when a red brick meetinghouse was built just up the road beside the already established [[Cemeteries|cemetery]]. By 1848 this congregation became known as Hageys, since two of its spiritual leaders were Jacob and Joseph Hagey.
 
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In 1840 the first Mennonite Sunday School in [[North America|North America]] was organized at Hagey Mennonite, but it closed after a few years due to conservative opposition. In 1891 a permanent Sunday School was organized and classes were taught in German and English. The first English sermon was preached at Hageys in 1890 and German was not used after the 1890's.
 
  
 
The Hagey church was extensively renovated in 1896, and after a fire in 1950. In 1954, after a second disastrous fire, a new church was built at the present location and it was renamed Preston Mennonite Church. The congregation joined the [[Mennonite Church Eastern Canada|Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada]] in 1988, and in 1995 it also became part of the [[Conference of Mennonites in Canada|Conference of Mennonites in Canada]].
 
The Hagey church was extensively renovated in 1896, and after a fire in 1950. In 1954, after a second disastrous fire, a new church was built at the present location and it was renamed Preston Mennonite Church. The congregation joined the [[Mennonite Church Eastern Canada|Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada]] in 1988, and in 1995 it also became part of the [[Conference of Mennonites in Canada|Conference of Mennonites in Canada]].
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The Preston congregation has experienced four name changes and four site changes. In 2000 it celebrated 200 years as a faithful Mennonite presence in this community.
 
The Preston congregation has experienced four name changes and four site changes. In 2000 it celebrated 200 years as a faithful Mennonite presence in this community.
 
= Bibliography =
 
= Bibliography =
−
Bergey, Lorna. "Hagey Mennonite Church 1842-1953." <em class="gameo_bibliography">Waterloo Historical Society</em> 58 (1970): 33-34.
+
Bergey, Lorna. "Hagey Mennonite Church 1842-1953." <em>Waterloo Historical Society</em> 58 (1970): 33-34.
  
 
"From the Files of Leslie D. Witmer." Hespeler, Ontario, 1967, 89 pp.
 
"From the Files of Leslie D. Witmer." Hespeler, Ontario, 1967, 89 pp.
Line 23: Line 21:
 
Groh, Anson. "The Sunday Schools of Hagey and Wanner Congregations." 1915, 8 pp.
 
Groh, Anson. "The Sunday Schools of Hagey and Wanner Congregations." 1915, 8 pp.
  
−
<em class="gameo_bibliography">Mennonite Reporter</em> (25 June 1979): 4; (June, 1989): 13.
+
''Mennonite Reporter'' (25 June 1979): 4; (June, 1989): 13.
 +
 
 +
Mennonites in Canada Collection, "MC (1800-Preston)", [https://uwaterloo.ca/mennonite-archives-ontario/ Mennonite Archives of Ontario].
  
−
Mennonites in Canada Collection, "MC (1800-Preston)", [http://grebel.uwaterloo.ca/mao/ Mennonite Archives of Ontario].
+
Steinman, Carol M. <em>Refined by Fire - The Story of Hagey/Preston Mennonite Church 1800-2000</em>. Kitchener, Ontario: Pandora Press, 2000.
  
−
Steinman, Carol M. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Refined by Fire - The Story of Hagey/Preston Mennonite Church 1800-2000</em>. Kitchener, ON: Pandora Press, 2000.
+
Witmer, Leslie D. <em>Pioneers of Christendom in Waterloo County, 1800-1967: History of the Hagey-Preston Mennonite Church. </em>Preston, Ontario: The Church, 1967, 64 pp.
  
−
Witmer, Leslie D. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Pioneers of Christendom in Waterloo County, 1800-1967: History of the Hagey-Preston Mennonite Church. </em>Preston, ON: The Church, 1967, 64 pp.
+
==Archival Records==
 +
Church archival records in [https://uwaterloo.ca/mennonite-archives-ontario/ Mennonite Archives of Ontario]. Other records, documents and artifacts are maintained in the offices at Preston Mennonite Church.
  
−
<h3>Archival Records</h3> Church archival records in [http://grebel.uwaterloo.ca/mao/ Mennonite Archives of Ontario]. Other records, documents and artifacts are maintained in the offices at Preston Mennonite Church.
 
 
= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
−
<h3>Preston Mennonite Church Pastoral Leaders</h3> <table class="vertical listing">  <tr> <th>Minister</th> <th>Position</th> <th>Years</th> </tr> <tr> <td> Jacob Bechtel</td> <td> Deacon</td> <td> 1800-1838</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Joseph Bechtel</td> <td> Minister</td> <td> 1804-1838</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Martin Baer</td> <td> Minister</td> <td> 1808-1845</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Benjamin Eby</td> <td> Bishop</td> <td> 1812-1853</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Johannes Cressman</td> <td> Deacon</td> <td> 1815-1818</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Abraham L. Clemens</td> <td> Deacon</td> <td> 1815-1845</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Joseph Bauman</td> <td> Minister</td> <td> 1816-1840</td> </tr> <tr> <td> David Sherk</td> <td> Deacon
+
'''Address''': 791 Concession Road, Cambridge, ON
 +
 
 +
'''Phone''': 519-653-5171
 +
 
 +
'''Website''': http://www.prestonmennonite.com/
 +
 
 +
'''Denominational Affiliations''':
 +
[https://mcec.ca/ Mennonite Church Eastern Canada Conference]
 +
 
 +
[http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/ Mennonite Church Canada]
 +
==Preston Mennonite Church Pastoral Leaders==
 +
{|  class="wikitable"  
 +
! Minister !! Position !! Years
 +
|-
 +
|  Jacob Bechtel ||  Deacon ||  1800-1838
 +
|-
 +
|  Joseph Bechtel ||  Minister ||  1804-1838
 +
|-
 +
|  Martin Baer ||  Minister ||  1808-1845
 +
|-
 +
|  [[Eby, Benjamin (1785-1853)|Benjamin Eby]] ||  Bishop ||  1812-1853
 +
|-
 +
|  Johannes Cressman ||  Deacon ||  1815-1818
 +
|-
 +
|  Abraham L. Clemens ||  Deacon ||  1815-1845
 +
|-
 +
|  Joseph Bauman ||  Minister ||  1816-1840
 +
|-
 +
|  [[Sherk, David (1801-1882)|David Sherk]] ||  Deacon<br/>Minister ||  1837-1838<br />1838-1882
 +
|-
 +
|  [[Bear, John (1804-1894)|John Bear]] ||  Minister ||  1838-1874
 +
|-
 +
|  Jacob Hagey ||  Deacon ||  1838-1893
 +
|-
 +
|  [[Hagey, Joseph B. (1810-1876)|Joseph Hagey]] ||  Minister<br />Bishop ||  1842-1851<br />1851-1870
 +
|-
 +
|  Jacob B. Gingrich ||  Minister ||  1878-1908
 +
|-
 +
|  Abraham Oberholtzer ||  Deacon ||  1889-1907
 +
|-
 +
|  David Wismer ||  Minister ||  1902-1908
 +
|-
 +
|  Daniel Shantz ||  Deacon ||  1907-1943
 +
|-
 +
|  Benjamin Shantz ||  Minister<br />Bishop ||  1908-1939<br />1939-1961
 +
|-
 +
|  Chester Buschert ||  Deacon ||  1944-1946
 +
|-
 +
|  Amos Martin ||  Deacon ||  1947-1950
 +
|-
 +
|  Howard L. Good ||  Minister ||  1948-1961
 +
|-
 +
|  [[Jutzi, Rufus (1915-2011)|Rufus Jutzi]] ||  Minister ||  1964-1974
 +
|-
 +
|  Willis Breckbill ||  Minister ||  1975-1982
 +
|-
 +
|  Brian Bauman ||  Minister ||  1983-1988
 +
|-
 +
|  Amzie Brubacher ||  Minister ||  1989-2001
 +
|-
 +
| [[Vandeworp, Gerrit “Gerry” Jan (1936-2014)|Gerry Vandeworp]] || Minister<br />(Interim) ||  2001-2002
 +
|-
 +
| Marianne Mellinger || Minister<br />(Interim) || 2001-2003
 +
|-
 +
| Claire Osinkosky ||  Minister ||  2003-January 2018
 +
|-
 +
| Gary Knarr|| Minister<br />(Interim) || March 2018-July 2020
 +
|-
 +
| Danielle Raimbault || Co-pastor || August 2020-present
 +
|-
 +
| KyongJung Kim || Co-pastor || August 2020-present
 +
|-
 +
| Dawne Driedger (Interim) || Co-pastor || November 2021-present
 +
|-
 +
| Ken Driedger (Interim) || Co-pastor || November 2021-May 2022
 +
|}
  
−
Minister</td> <td> 1837-1838
+
==Preston Mennonite Church Membership==
 +
{|  class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
 +
!  Year !!  Members
 +
|-
 +
|  1900 || 60
 +
|-
 +
|  1925 || 84
 +
|-
 +
|  1950 || 114
 +
|-
 +
|  1975 || 166
 +
|-
 +
|  2000 || 134
 +
|-
 +
|  2011 || 81
 +
|-
 +
|  2020 || 54
 +
|}
  
−
1838-1882</td> </tr> <tr> <td> John Baer</td> <td> Minister</td> <td> 1838-1874</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Jacob Hagey</td> <td> Deacon</td> <td> 1838-1893</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Joseph Hagey</td> <td> Minister
+
= Map =
 +
[[Map:Preston Mennonite Church (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada)]]
 +
= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =
  
−
Bishop</td> <td> 1842-1851
+
By [[Bender, Harold Stauffer (1897-1962)|Harold S. Bender]]. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, p. 216. All rights reserved.
  
−
1851-1870</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Jacob B. Gingrich</td> <td> Minister</td> <td> 1878-1908</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Abraham Oberholtzer</td> <td> Deacon</td> <td> 1889-1907</td> </tr> <tr> <td> David Wismer</td> <td> Minister</td> <td> 1902-1908</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Daniel Shantz</td> <td> Deacon</td> <td> 1907-1943</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Benjamin Shantz</td> <td> Minister
+
Preston (Ontario) Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church), a member of the Ontario Conference, was from 1842 to 1953 known as the Hagey church because of the Hagey families in the congregation and because it was located at Hagey's crossing about one mile north-west of Preston. The meetinghouse, erected in 1842, was destroyed by fire in 1950; its successor was likewise destroyed by fire in 1953. The present brick meetinghouse at 791 Concession Road was dedicated 16 May 1954. In 1957 the membership was 119, with Howard Good as minister.
  
−
Bishop</td> <td> 1908-1939
+
The [[Preston (Ontario, Canada)|Preston]] area was the place of earliest Mennonite settlement in [[Waterloo County (Ontario, Canada)|Waterloo County]], which began in 1799. The first ordained man in the area was Jacob Bechtel, a deacon who arrived in 1800. The first minister was Joseph Bechtel, who arrived in 1802 and was ordained preacher in 1804. Other ministers, with dates of arrival and ordination, were Martin Baer 1801 and 1808; Abr. L. Clemens, deacon, 1809 and 1815; John Baer, a son of Martin, ordained in 1838, but withdrew to join the "New Mennonites" (Mennonite Brethren in Christ) in 1874; Jacob Hagey, deacon, 1822 and 1832; Joseph Hagey 1822 and 1844, bishop 1857-76; [[Sherk, David (1801-1882)|David Sherk]] (1801-82), the most important early preacher of the congregation, ordained 1838; and Ben B. Shantz, 1908. Howard Good, the present pastor, was ordained in 1948.
  
−
1939-1961</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Chester Buschert</td> <td> Deacon</td> <td> 1944-1946</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Amos Martin</td> <td> Deacon</td> <td> 1947-1950</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Howard L. Good</td> <td> Minister</td> <td> 1948-1961</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Rufus Jutzi</td> <td> Minister</td> <td> 1964-1974</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Willis Breckbill</td> <td> Minister</td> <td> 1975-1982</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Brian Bauman</td> <td> Minister</td> <td> 1983-1988</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Amzie Brubacher</td> <td> Minister</td> <td> 1989-2001</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Gerry Vandeworp</td> <td>Minister (Interim)</td> <td>2001-2002</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Marianne Mellinger</td> <td>Minister (Interim)</td> <td>2001-2003</td> </tr> <tr> <td> Claire Osinkosky</td> <td> Minister</td> <td> 2003-</td> </tr>  </table> <h3>Preston Mennonite Church Membership</h3> <table class="vertical listing">  <tr> <th> Year</th> <th> Members</th> </tr> <tr> <td> 1900</td> <td align="right"> 60</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 1925</td> <td align="right"> 84</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 1950</td> <td align="right"> 114</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 1975</td> <td align="right"> 166</td> </tr> <tr> <td> 2000</td> <td align="right"> 134</td> </tr>  </table>
+
Although the Preston area settlement was the oldest in Waterloo County, the history of the Hagey congregation before 1842 is obscure. The congregation must have met in the homes of the members for some time, since the first meetinghouse in the county, at Kitchener, was erected in 1813. There is some evidence that a meetinghouse was erected near Preston about the same time. The [[Wanner Mennonite Church (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada)|Wanner congregation]] (first meetinghouse 1829) has always been closely related to Hagey, and apparently for a long time the ministers served both the Hagey and Wanner congregations. For a time the [[Pioneer Park Christian Fellowship, Mennonite (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada)|Weber (Strasburg) church]] was included in the circuit. This area has for the past 70 years been progressive in outlook and activities.
 
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=August 2003|a1_last=Steinman|a1_first=Carol M|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
 
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=August 2003|a1_last=Steinman|a1_first=Carol M|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
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[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
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[[‎Category:Mennonite Conference of Ontario and Quebec Congregations]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church Eastern Canada Congregations]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church Canada Congregations]]
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[[‎Category:Ontario Congregations]]
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[[Category:Canadian Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 16:14, 20 May 2022

Preston Mennonite Church
Source: Brian L. Shantz Website

The Preston, Ontario area (now part of the city of Cambridge) was the oldest Mennonite community in the Waterloo Region, tracing its origin to the first Caucasian settlers to arrive in this part of Ontario. In 1800 four family groups immigrated here from Pennsylvania and included an ordained deacon, Jacob Bechtel. Joseph Bechtel arrived in 1802 and was ordained as the first minister in 1804. This group of Anabaptists met in homes or barns until 1814 when they built a union or free house meetinghouse. Religious groups other than the Church of England were not allowed to build places of worship in Upper Canada until 1828 or later, thus before this time community meetinghouses were available to everyone. Because of disagreements in the early 1820's, the Anabaptists were locked out of this building by another church group using the same facility. In 1824 the Bechtel group relocated and built a new union meetinghouse. It was known as the Bechtel Appointment because of the surnames of its leadership. In 1842 this group became formally organized when a red brick meetinghouse was built just up the road beside the already established cemetery. By 1848 this congregation became known as Hageys, since two of its spiritual leaders were Jacob and Joseph Hagey.

In 1840 the first Mennonite Sunday School in North America was organized at Hagey Mennonite, but it closed after a few years due to conservative opposition. In 1891 a permanent Sunday School was organized and classes were taught in German and English. The first English sermon was preached at Hageys in 1890 and German was not used after the 1890's.

The Hagey church was extensively renovated in 1896, and after a fire in 1950. In 1954, after a second disastrous fire, a new church was built at the present location and it was renamed Preston Mennonite Church. The congregation joined the Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada in 1988, and in 1995 it also became part of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada.

The Preston congregation has been active in local outreach for many years. In 1943 its members were instrumental in opening Braeside Home, a senior's residence, which was described as the first of its kind in Canada and the fourth in North America. This institution relocated next door to Preston Mennonite Church in 1956 and was renamed Fairview Mennonite Home. Residents are able to attend functions at Preston Church or listen to worship services over a public address system. Many of the church members have been employed there, and many of the church's seniors reside there.

In 1974 a nursery school was begun in Preston Church basement, primarily to serve the high density area know as Lang's Farm Village located just east of the church property. It continued until 1995. In 2003 the church's mission involvement continued in Lang's Farm Village, and many church members volunteered in this part of the community.

The Preston congregation has experienced four name changes and four site changes. In 2000 it celebrated 200 years as a faithful Mennonite presence in this community.

Bibliography

Bergey, Lorna. "Hagey Mennonite Church 1842-1953." Waterloo Historical Society 58 (1970): 33-34.

"From the Files of Leslie D. Witmer." Hespeler, Ontario, 1967, 89 pp.

Groh, Anson. "The Sunday Schools of Hagey and Wanner Congregations." 1915, 8 pp.

Mennonite Reporter (25 June 1979): 4; (June, 1989): 13.

Mennonites in Canada Collection, "MC (1800-Preston)", Mennonite Archives of Ontario.

Steinman, Carol M. Refined by Fire - The Story of Hagey/Preston Mennonite Church 1800-2000. Kitchener, Ontario: Pandora Press, 2000.

Witmer, Leslie D. Pioneers of Christendom in Waterloo County, 1800-1967: History of the Hagey-Preston Mennonite Church. Preston, Ontario: The Church, 1967, 64 pp.

Archival Records

Church archival records in Mennonite Archives of Ontario. Other records, documents and artifacts are maintained in the offices at Preston Mennonite Church.

Additional Information

Address: 791 Concession Road, Cambridge, ON

Phone: 519-653-5171

Website: http://www.prestonmennonite.com/

Denominational Affiliations: Mennonite Church Eastern Canada Conference

Mennonite Church Canada

Preston Mennonite Church Pastoral Leaders

Minister Position Years
Jacob Bechtel Deacon 1800-1838
Joseph Bechtel Minister 1804-1838
Martin Baer Minister 1808-1845
Benjamin Eby Bishop 1812-1853
Johannes Cressman Deacon 1815-1818
Abraham L. Clemens Deacon 1815-1845
Joseph Bauman Minister 1816-1840
David Sherk Deacon
Minister		 1837-1838
1838-1882
John Bear Minister 1838-1874
Jacob Hagey Deacon 1838-1893
Joseph Hagey Minister
Bishop		 1842-1851
1851-1870
Jacob B. Gingrich Minister 1878-1908
Abraham Oberholtzer Deacon 1889-1907
David Wismer Minister 1902-1908
Daniel Shantz Deacon 1907-1943
Benjamin Shantz Minister
Bishop		 1908-1939
1939-1961
Chester Buschert Deacon 1944-1946
Amos Martin Deacon 1947-1950
Howard L. Good Minister 1948-1961
Rufus Jutzi Minister 1964-1974
Willis Breckbill Minister 1975-1982
Brian Bauman Minister 1983-1988
Amzie Brubacher Minister 1989-2001
Gerry Vandeworp Minister
(Interim)		 2001-2002
Marianne Mellinger Minister
(Interim)		 2001-2003
Claire Osinkosky Minister 2003-January 2018
Gary Knarr Minister
(Interim)		 March 2018-July 2020
Danielle Raimbault Co-pastor August 2020-present
KyongJung Kim Co-pastor August 2020-present
Dawne Driedger (Interim) Co-pastor November 2021-present
Ken Driedger (Interim) Co-pastor November 2021-May 2022

Preston Mennonite Church Membership

Year Members
1900 60
1925 84
1950 114
1975 166
2000 134
2011 81
2020 54

Map

Map:Preston Mennonite Church (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada)

Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article

By Harold S. Bender. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 216. All rights reserved.

Preston (Ontario) Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church), a member of the Ontario Conference, was from 1842 to 1953 known as the Hagey church because of the Hagey families in the congregation and because it was located at Hagey's crossing about one mile north-west of Preston. The meetinghouse, erected in 1842, was destroyed by fire in 1950; its successor was likewise destroyed by fire in 1953. The present brick meetinghouse at 791 Concession Road was dedicated 16 May 1954. In 1957 the membership was 119, with Howard Good as minister.

The Preston area was the place of earliest Mennonite settlement in Waterloo County, which began in 1799. The first ordained man in the area was Jacob Bechtel, a deacon who arrived in 1800. The first minister was Joseph Bechtel, who arrived in 1802 and was ordained preacher in 1804. Other ministers, with dates of arrival and ordination, were Martin Baer 1801 and 1808; Abr. L. Clemens, deacon, 1809 and 1815; John Baer, a son of Martin, ordained in 1838, but withdrew to join the "New Mennonites" (Mennonite Brethren in Christ) in 1874; Jacob Hagey, deacon, 1822 and 1832; Joseph Hagey 1822 and 1844, bishop 1857-76; David Sherk (1801-82), the most important early preacher of the congregation, ordained 1838; and Ben B. Shantz, 1908. Howard Good, the present pastor, was ordained in 1948.

Although the Preston area settlement was the oldest in Waterloo County, the history of the Hagey congregation before 1842 is obscure. The congregation must have met in the homes of the members for some time, since the first meetinghouse in the county, at Kitchener, was erected in 1813. There is some evidence that a meetinghouse was erected near Preston about the same time. The Wanner congregation (first meetinghouse 1829) has always been closely related to Hagey, and apparently for a long time the ministers served both the Hagey and Wanner congregations. For a time the Weber (Strasburg) church was included in the circuit. This area has for the past 70 years been progressive in outlook and activities.


Author(s) Carol M Steinman
Date Published August 2003

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steinman, Carol M. "Preston Mennonite Church (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. August 2003. Web. 22 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Preston_Mennonite_Church_(Cambridge,_Ontario,_Canada)&oldid=173852.

APA style

Steinman, Carol M. (August 2003). Preston Mennonite Church (Cambridge, Ontario, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Preston_Mennonite_Church_(Cambridge,_Ontario,_Canada)&oldid=173852.



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

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