Medemblik (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)
Medemblik, a town (1947 pop. 4,930 2005 pop. 8,046) in the Dutch Province of North Holland, where there has been a Mennonite congregation since very early times. Leenaert Bouwens baptized a total of 63 persons here in 1563-1565. From the close of the 16th century the attitude of the government was remarkably tolerant in permitting the Mennonites to perform their own marriages, merely notifying the authorities of the union. But otherwise the magistrates were less tolerant: in 1628 Hans Alenson, preaching here, was imprisoned for some time on the instigation of the Reformed ministers and then banished from the town. The small congregation (in 1675, 50 baptized members) belonged to the Waterlander branch. There was also a Frisian congregation, which was still smaller and in 1730 united with the former. On several occasions (e.g., 1727, 1733, 1736) the congregation contributed liberally to the needs of the Prussian and Lithuanian Mennonites. In 1826 the combined membership was only 16; by 1847 the number had risen to 31, in 1901 to 53, and in 1938 to 73; after then somewhat less (42 in 1957). Until 1883 the congregation had its own preacher. After having none for six years, it joined the neighboring Enkhuizen for services. But in 1901 it again acquired a preacher of its own (Th. H. van Vens 1901-1905, F. J. de Holl1905-1913, J. M. Erkelens 1913-1919). In 1919 it united with the congregation of Twisk.
Bibliography
Cate, Steven Blaupot ten. Geschiedenis der Doopsgezinden in Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht en Gelderland. 2 v. Amsterdam: P.N. van Kampen, 1847: I, II, passim, see Index.
Doopsgezinde Bijdragen (1889): 134.
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe; Schneider, 1913-1967: v. III, 65.
Hoop Scheffer, Jacob Gijsbert de. Inventaris der Archiefstukken berustende bij de Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente to Amsterdam. 2 v. Amsterdam: Uitgegeven en ten geschenke aangeboden door den Kerkeraad dier Gemeente, 1883-1884: II, 2, Nos. 261-271.
Author(s) | Nanne van der Zijpp |
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Date Published | 1957 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
van der Zijpp, Nanne. "Medemblik (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1957. Web. 25 Aug 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Medemblik_(Noord-Holland,_Netherlands)&oldid=58486.
APA style
van der Zijpp, Nanne. (1957). Medemblik (Noord-Holland, Netherlands). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 25 August 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Medemblik_(Noord-Holland,_Netherlands)&oldid=58486.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, pp. 549-550. All rights reserved.
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