Reiff Mennonite Church (Washington County, Maryland, USA)
Reiff Mennonite Church (Washington-Franklin Mennonite Conference), formerly known as Witmer's Church, is located near Maugansville, Washington County, Maryland. In 1833 a group of families from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, settled on homesteads in this community. Families represented were Reiff, Horst, Weber, Eshleman, and Martin. They worshiped in the nearby home of David Reiff until 1840, when a church was built on the present site and named for the man who granted the deed. In 1867 it was enlarged, and in 1891 it was replaced by a new brick building. The present building, the largest in the district, was erected in 1928. The first bishop, Peter Eshleman, was ordained in 1838.
Ministers who have served the congregation were John Summers, Michael Horst (later bishop), Abram Ebersole, Jacob Risser, George Keener, C. R. Strite, Martin E. Risser, D. R. Lesher, Moses K. Horst (bishop), Stanley H. Martin, and Reuben E. Martin. The membership in 1957 was 389.
In 2014 the church was served by Bishop Darrel E. Martin, Ministers Ethan G. Eby, Steven R. Martin, and Richard E. Weber, and Deacons Myron D. Eby and Seth M. Eby. The church had 272 members.
The church was originally a Mennonite Church (MC) congregation but later joined the Washington-Franklin Mennonite Conference.
Bibliography
Mennonite Church Directory 2014. Harrisonburg, VA: Christian Light Publications, Inc., 2014: 141.
Additional Information
Denominational Affiliations:
Washington-Franklin Mennonite Conference
| Author(s) | John D. Risser |
|---|---|
| Richard D. Thiessen | |
| Date Published | March 2014 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Risser, John D. and Richard D. Thiessen. "Reiff Mennonite Church (Washington County, Maryland, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. March 2014. Web. 24 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Reiff_Mennonite_Church_(Washington_County,_Maryland,_USA)&oldid=155442.
APA style
Risser, John D. and Richard D. Thiessen. (March 2014). Reiff Mennonite Church (Washington County, Maryland, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Reiff_Mennonite_Church_(Washington_County,_Maryland,_USA)&oldid=155442.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 276. All rights reserved.
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