Amersfoort (Utrecht, Netherlands)

Amersfoort is a city in the Dutch province of Utrecht (population in 2000 was 126,270), where Leenaert Bouwens baptized 30 persons in the mid-16th century. There was at this time a congregation of about 30 members, which used to meet in the house of Lubbert Gerritsz, who in 1559 fled from Amersfoort to Hoorn. In 1569, 14 persons were punished here by the confiscation of their possessions and exile as a penalty for attending meetings of the Anabaptists (Wederdoopers); Steven Pietersz, in whose house the congregation had worshiped, was put to death. Beyond this very little is known about this congregation. It was frequently without a preacher; the last one whose name is known was Salomo Stenfurt, who was still serving the congregation in 1702. At any rate the congregation was no longer in existence in 1731.

In 1903 the Mennonites living in Amersfoort organized as a group (Kring); E. M. ten Cate, at Apeldoorn after 1904, came regularly to give catechetical instruction and to preach for them in the Lutheran church. The first baptism was performed in 1905. In 1913 the group was able to build its own church, and in 1923 it became a congregation. In 1924 it called F. Kuiper as its minister (1924-1928); he was succeeded by T. O. M. H. Hylkema, 1928-1936; W. F. Golterman, 1936-1942; S. Gosses, Gzn., 1942-1950, and A. G. van Gilse after 1951.

The congregation is a member of Ring Utrecht-Gooi. In the 1950s it had a women's organization, men's organization, youth organization, and a choir; work with the young people was carried on in cooperation with other groups of the locality. The membership was 247 in 1927, 240 in 1950 and 63 in 2005.

Bibliography

Doopsgezinde Bijdragen. (1868): 94 ff.; (1875): 87; (1905): 193; (1918): 119-137.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe: Schneider, 1913-1967: v. I, 55.

Hoop Scheffer, Jacob Gijsbert de. Inventaris der Archiefstukken berustende bij de Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente to Amsterdam. 2 v. Amsterdam: Uitgegeven en ten geschenke aangeboden door den Kerkeraad dier Gemeente, 1883-1884: II, No. 1522;

Kleyntjes, J. "Onderzoek naar de Herdoopers in Amersfoort." Archief voor de geschiedenis van het aartsbisdom Utrecht 61 (1937): 648-651.

Additional Information

Address: Doopsgezinde Gemeente Amersfoort, Westsingel 30, 3811 BB, Amersfoort

Phone: 033-4617858

Denominational Affiliation: Algemene Doopsgezinde Societeit

Maps

Map:Amersfoort (Netherlands)

Author(s)	Nanne van der Zijpp
Date Published	1955

Cite This Article

MLA style

van der Zijpp, Nanne. "Amersfoort (Utrecht, Netherlands)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1955. Web. 18 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Amersfoort_(Utrecht,_Netherlands)&oldid=105539.

APA style

van der Zijpp, Nanne. (1955). Amersfoort (Utrecht, Netherlands). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 18 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Amersfoort_(Utrecht,_Netherlands)&oldid=105539.

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Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 88. All rights reserved.

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