Apeldoorn is a town in the Dutch province of Gelderland (population in 2006 was 156,062), where there has been a Mennonite congregation since 1896. On 8 November 1895 Joh. Hoekstra, a retired minister, and J. Noe, Gzn, J. C. Dirks, and J. H. Steghers HJzn, Mennonites living at Apeldoorn, decided to organize a congregation, since there were sixty-one Mennonites living there. On 6 February 1896 the congregation was called into being and a church board appointed; forty-nine members had joined the congregation. J. P. van der Vegte of Blokzijl was called as minister, preaching his first sermon there on 23 August 1896. The services were at first conducted in the church of the Dutch Protestant Union, but on 14 December 1930 the congregation dedicated its own church.

J. P. van der Vegte served the congregation from 1896 to 1904; he was followed by E. M. ten Cate, 1904-1925, who also served the Amersfoort congregation 1919-1924; T. J. van der Ploeg, 1926-1938; M. van der Meulen, 1939-1942; A. P. van de Water, 1942-1946; S. H. N. Gorter, 1946-1951; and R. J. Faber beginning in 1951. In 1896 the membership was forty-nine; in 1904, 109; in 1925, 300; in 1952, 327. The congregation has a women's organization and a youth circle.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 136. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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