Mattawana Mennonite Church (Lewistown, Pennsylvania, USA)
Mattawana Mennonite Church (Conservative Mennonite Conference), near Mattawana, Pennsylvania, was formerly a member of the Ohio and Eastern Conference, was formerly called the River Church. Amish families, Hooleys and Yoders, from Lancaster and Berks counties, Pennsylvania, settled along the Juniata River near Lewistown as early as 1793. When the congregation was organized is not known, but in 1818 the ministers were Christ King and Christ Yoder, and Daniel Stutzman was deacon. In 1840-1868 there were no resident ministers, the church being served by ministers from Kishacoquillas Valley.
Outstanding personalities in the history of this church were Michael Yoder (1831-1923), ordained to the ministry in 1868 and bishop in 1885, and Shem Zook (1798-1880), an author, publisher, and educator. The first meetinghouse was built in 1871, at which time the congregation affiliated itself with the Eastern Amish Mennonite Conference. The congregation remained small. Other resident ministers were John S. Yoder, John E. Kauffman (bishop), Samuel K. Yoder, Harry E. Kauffman, and Milo M. Yoder. In 1954 the membership was 127, under the ministry of Samuel Kauffman bishop, and Ross Metzler and M. M. Yoder ministers.
In 1957 the congregation switched to the Allegheny Mennonite Conference because of geographical proximity. After 1999 the congregation joined the Conservative Mennonite Conference.
In 2011 the membership was 60 and the leading minister was Allan Zook.
Bibliography
Anabaptist (Mennonite) Directory 2011. Harrisonburg, VA: The Sword and Trumpet, 2011: 51.
Additional Information
Address: PO Box 126, Lewistown PA 17054-0126
Telephone: 717-899-7107
Denominational Affiliation:
Eastern Amish Mennonite Conference
Ohio and Eastern Mennonite Conference (MC)
Allegheny Mennonite Conference
Conservative Mennonite Conference
| Author(s) | John A. Hostetler |
|---|---|
| Richard D. Thiessen | |
| Date Published | April 2012 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Hostetler, John A. and Richard D. Thiessen. "Mattawana Mennonite Church (Lewistown, Pennsylvania, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. April 2012. Web. 22 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Mattawana_Mennonite_Church_(Lewistown,_Pennsylvania,_USA)&oldid=117152.
APA style
Hostetler, John A. and Richard D. Thiessen. (April 2012). Mattawana Mennonite Church (Lewistown, Pennsylvania, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Mattawana_Mennonite_Church_(Lewistown,_Pennsylvania,_USA)&oldid=117152.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 538. All rights reserved.
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