Rockhill Mennonite Church (Telford, Pennsylvania, USA)
Rockhill Mennonite Church (MC), near Telford, Montgomery and Bucks counties, Pennsylvania, a member of the Franconia Mennonite Conference, formerly called Bechtel's, then Gehman's (the name Rockhill only since about 1910), was organized between 1744 and 1764. The first meetinghouse was erected between 1737 and 1773. In 1838 the second meetinghouse was erected, and in 1925 the third. Early preachers were Isaac Kolb 1744-1776, Samuel Bechtel 1764-1802, Abraham Gehman 1770-1792, and Samuel Gehman 1799-1845. The first deacon was Michael Derstine (died 1777). A small faction left in 1848 to join the new Oberholtzer (General Conference Mennonite Church) group. In 1957 the congregation had 221 members, with Arthur D. Ruth as bishop, and Edwin A. Souder, Clinton D. Landis, and Alfred A. Detweiler as preachers.
On 1 April 2018 the Rockhill congregation merged with the Ridgeline Community Church. Ridgeline was a Southern Baptist church plant established in January 2013. The merger was approved by 92% in Rockhill Mennonite Church's vote. The merged congregation was called the Ridgeline Community Church, still affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Rockhill's pastor, Larry Moyer, retired and ongoing pastoral leadership was provided by Ridgeline's pastor, Gibson Largent.
Bibliography
Clemmer, Mike. "A New Chapter in a Classic Story." Franconia Conference. 2018. Web. 16 September 2018. https://franconiaconference.org/a-new-chapter-in-a-classic-story/.
Mennonite Church USA. Directory. (2005)
Mennonite Yearbook (1915-1995)
Wenger, John C. History of the Mennonites of the Franconia Conference. Scottdale, Pa.: Mennonite Pub. House, 1938. Reprinted Lititz, PA?: Publication Board of the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church], 1985.
Additional Information
Address: 3100 Meetinghouse Road, Telford, PA 18969
Phone:
Website:
Denominational Affiliations: Franconia Mennonite Conference
Ordained Leaders at Rockhill Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Isaac Kolb (1711-1776) | 1744-1773? |
| Samuel Bechtel (1706-1802) | 1764-1802 |
| Abraham Gehman (173?-1792) | ?-1792 |
| Samuel Gehman (1767-1845) | 1798-1845 |
| George Derstine (1770-1837) | ?-1837 |
| John F. Detweiler (1786-1864) | ?-1847 |
| Jacob Detweiler (1795-1879) | 1840-1879 |
| Abraham Fretz (1793-1875) | 1843-1875 |
| John Allebach (1805-1902) | 1849-1902 |
| Abel Horning (1825-1906) | 1863-1906 |
| Samuel D. Detweiler (1841-1917) | 1876-1917 |
| Mahlon D. Souder (1859-1924) | 1899-1924 |
| William M. Landis (1869-1923) | 1909-1923 |
| Alfred A. Detweiler (1897-1963) | 1923-1963 |
| Edwin A. Souder (1882-1958) | 1924-1958 |
| Isaac F. Detweiler (1876-1942) | 1934-1942 |
| Clinton D. Landis (1899-1973) | 1942-1973 |
| Merrill B. Landis (1931- ) | 1962-1968 |
| Henry L. Ruth (1918-1993) | 1968-1980 |
| Russell M. Detweiler (1928-2011) | 1981-1989? |
| Michael Derstine (1961- ) | 1990-1999 |
| Robert Petersheim (Interim) | 2003-2004 |
| Larry Moyer | 2004-April 2018 |
Membership at Rockhill Mennonite Church
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1915 | 210 |
| 1925 | 200 |
| 1935 | 200 |
| 1945 | 216 |
| 1955 | 257 |
| 1965 | 240 |
| 1975 | 227 |
| 1985 | 156 |
| 1995 | 180 |
| 2005 | 148 |
| 2015 | 148 |
Map
Map:Rockhill Mennonite Church (Telford, Pennsylvania, USA)
| Author(s) | Harold S. Bender |
|---|---|
| Sam Steiner | |
| Date Published | 1959 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Bender, Harold S. and Sam Steiner. "Rockhill Mennonite Church (Telford, Pennsylvania, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1959. Web. 22 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Rockhill_Mennonite_Church_(Telford,_Pennsylvania,_USA)&oldid=161951.
APA style
Bender, Harold S. and Sam Steiner. (1959). Rockhill Mennonite Church (Telford, Pennsylvania, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Rockhill_Mennonite_Church_(Telford,_Pennsylvania,_USA)&oldid=161951.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 347. All rights reserved.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.