Charlestown Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church), now extinct, located in Chester County, Pennsylvania, probably dates back to 1795 when a deed was conveyed to five trustees, one of whom was Bishop Matthias Pennypacker (1742-1808), the great-grandfather of Samuel W. Pennypacker, a former governor of Pennsylvania. Bishop Pennypacker, who had charge of the Phoenixville congregation, was no doubt the founder of the Charlestown congregation. No date is known for the erection of the meetinghouse. Tradition tells us that the building still standing in 1867 was not then being used for services. The old building finally collapsed and was removed so that no trace of church or cemetery remains.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 551. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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