Duchess Mennonite Church (Duchess, Alberta, Canada)
P.O. Box 298, Duchess, AB, T0J 0Z0. (403) 378-4966. Minister Alvin Penner served in 2005 as a congregational leader. In 1925 there were 16 members; in 1950, 82; in 1965, 159; in 1975, 74; in 1985, 129; in 1995, 97; in 2000 126. The congregation has been affiliated with the Northwest Mennonite Conference (1917-) and the Mennonite Church (1917-1999). The language of worship is English.
The congregation began services in 1916, and formally organized in 1917 by Bishop N.B. Stauffer. The first building was occupied in 1924, with subsequent building programs in 1948 and 1980. Prior to construction of the church building, services were held in a schoolhouse. J.S. Ramer is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through immigration from the the United States, primarily from Pennsylvania.
The first settler in the area was S.B. Ramer, who came in 1915. J.H. Brubaker and family came in 1916. Ordained leaders prior to 1950 included J.S. Ramer, H.B. Ramer, C.J. Ramer, Paul Martin, Chris Snyder, Eli Kauffman, David Ramer and Marlin Brubaker.
Bibliography
Mennonite Reporter (21 July 1980): 4.
Stauffer, Ezra. History of the Alberta-Saskatchewan Mennonite Conference. The Conference, 1960: 5.
Additional Information
Duchess Mennonite Church website
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 105. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.
©1996-2008 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
To cite this page:
MLA style: Stauffer, Ezra and Marlene Epp. "Duchess Mennonite Church (Duchess, Alberta, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. May 1989. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 25 July 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/D8345.html>
APA style: Stauffer, Ezra and Marlene Epp. (May 1989). "Duchess Mennonite Church (Duchess, Alberta, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 25 July 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/D8345.html>
