Zion Mennonite Church (General Conference Mennonite), first located at 203 E. Broad St., Souderton, Montgomery County, PA, had its origin in 1887 as a small mission of Mennonite and unaffiliated families led by N. B. Grubb, pastor of the First Mennonite Church of Philadelphia. In 1892, with financial aid from the Eastern District Conference, a church was built 36 x 46 ft. In 1893 the congregation was organized with 19 charter members. The life and growth of the congregation is evident in the record of building renovations and expansion—1908, 1915, 1925, and 1940. In 1954 a 15-acre tract was purchased as a future expansion site, the purpose being to have an integrated church program ministering to the total needs of man - physical, mental, and spiritual. In 1958 the membership, mostly urban, was 655. The following have served as pastors: Allen M. Fretz 1893-1910, J. W. Schantz 1910-1916, Reed F. Landis 1916-1923, Grover T. Soldner 1923-1931, Ernest J. Bohn 1931-1944, Ellis Graber 1944-1959.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 1033. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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