Ferrière, La (Bern, Switzerland)
La Ferrière is a village in the Courtelary district of the canton of Bern, Switzerland, near the French border. In 1870-1793 an Amish congregation existed here, which at first held its meetings in the homes of the members. The lack of space was a severe handicap. When David Ummel-Stähli of La Chaux d'Abel in La Ferrière bought a farm for his son-in-law Menzi, he had a room furnished for the use of the congregation. Meetings were held here every two weeks. The membership numbered about 45. The elders were Ummel-Stähli (1797-1896) and David Gerber of Torneret near Le Lock (1838-1921), who emigrated to America.
Through emigration to America the congregation was so greatly reduced in numbers that the few remaining members united with the small congregation at La Chaux d'Abel. After this merger the chapel was built in Aux Bulles in 1894. The congregation kept no records.
Bibliography
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe; Schneider, 1913-1967: I, 642.
Mannhardt, H. G. Jahrbuch der altevangelischen Taufgesinnten oder Mennoniten (1888): 40.
Müller, Ernst. Geschichte der Bernischen Täufer. Frauenfeld: Huber, 1895. Reprinted Nieuwkoop : B. de Graaf, 1972: 234.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 326. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.
©1996-2013 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
MLA style: Amstutz-Tschirren, A. J. "Ferrière, La (Bern, Switzerland)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1956. Web. 25 May 2013. http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/ferriere_la_bern_switzerland.
APA style: Amstutz-Tschirren, A. J. (1956). Ferrière, La (Bern, Switzerland). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 25 May 2013, from http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/ferriere_la_bern_switzerland.
