Bierum, a village in the northeastern part of the Dutch province of Groningen, where there was once a Mennonite congregation belonging to the Groninger Old Flemish. It was always quite small. They had no meetinghouse, but held services in the room of a house. In 1710 there were about 30 members, in 1755, 10, and in 1767 only 4. The so-called Martini flood of 1686 and a second severe flood in 1717 caused heavy losses to the village of Bierum and to the members of the congregation, all of whom were engaged in agriculture. Jan Kriens, an influential elder of the Groninger Old Flemish, lived in Bierum. After 1769 the congregation was no longer listed in the register of Mennonite preachers.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 340. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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