Colebrookdale was an area in eastern Berks County, Pennsylvania. When the first Mennonites settled in what is now Berks County, prior to 1725, this area of approximately 150 square miles was known as Manatawny or the Manatant District. Later the area was known as Colebrookdale, a name which was finally restricted to the area in which Boyertown is located. The term is used for this region to this day. More than 200 years ago the whole area of the extreme western corner of Bucks County became officially known as Hereford, from which the Hereford Mennonite churches took their name. The Mennonites who worshiped at Boyertown were spoken of as worshiping at Colebrookdale, and the Colebrookdale Mennonites until the mid-1950s were part of the Hereford Mennonite Church.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 635. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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