Waldo Mennonite Church (Flanagan, Illinois, USA)
Waldo Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church), located four miles south of Flanagan, Illinois, a member of the Illinois Mennonite Conference, dates back to 1855, when the first settlers, who were all Amish, came from France and Germany. In 1860-67 the ministers were Christian Slagell, J. P. Smith, Jacob Rediger, and an Oyer, who held services in homes of members. Daniel Steinmann (ordained preacher in 1867) was bishop 1886-1908, and J. D. Hartzler (ordained preacher in 1920) was bishop 1927-59. In 1867 a meetinghouse was built, replaced in 1906 by a new building, which was destroyed by fire in 1933; the present building, still on the original site, was erected in the same year, seating capacity 300.
The first Sunday school was started in 1868. Church services and Sunday school were held on alternate Sundays until 1875, when they were joined into one service. The Waldo church was one of the first in the state to take this step. In 1957 the membership was 254, with Edwin J. "Jack" Stalter as minister.
In 1999 merger discussions began with Flanagan Mennonite Church and on 15 April 2001 the two congregations merged, forming Prairieview Mennonite Church. The congregation was located at the former Waldo site.
Bibliography
Hochstetler, Wayne. "Historic vote merges two congregations." Central District Reporter 45, no. 2 (April-May 2001): 7.
Smith, Willard H. Mennonites in Illinois. Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite History, 24. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1983: 552.
Stalter, Edwin J. The Mennonites of Waldo: 1860-1960. Illinois: The Church?, 1960.
Weber, Harry F. Centennial History of the Mennonites of Illinois 1829-1929. Studies in Anabaptist and Mennonite history, 3. Goshen, Ind: Mennonite Historical Society, 1931: 244-252. Available in full electronic text at https://archive.org/details/centennialhistor00webe.
Pastoral Leaders at Waldo Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Christian Ropp (1812-1896)(Bishop) | 1860-1872 |
| John P. Schmitt (1820?-1904) | 1860-1904 |
| John Rediger | 1860-1866 |
| Jacob Rediger (?-1863) | 1860-1863 |
| ? Oyer | 1860-after 1867 |
| Joseph Rediger (1826-1904) | 1863-1866 |
| Christian Schlegel (1819-1884) (Bishop) |
1863-1872 1872-1884 |
| Joseph Gascho (1841-1902) | 1872-1878 |
| Daniel Greiser (1838- ) | 1878-1879 |
| Daniel Steinmann (1830-1916) (Bishop) |
1872-1885 1885-1908 |
| Daniel Orendorff (1848-1918) | 1890-1918 |
| Daniel W. Slagel (1864-1947) | 1900-1940 |
| George Summers (1871-1937) | 1908-1920 |
| Joseph D. "J. D." Hartzler (1884-1970) (Bishop) |
1920-1927 1927-1957 |
| Edwin J. "Jack" Stalter (1922-2006) | 1948-1964 |
| Earl R. Sears (1935-2018) | 1964-1968 |
| David Eschleman (1936- ) | 1969-1972 |
| Robert L. Harnish (1925- ) | 1973-1978 |
| Lester L. Zook | 1979-1999 |
| Kenneth Peterson (Interim) | 1999-2001 |
| Author(s) | J. D Hartzler |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1959 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Hartzler, J. D. "Waldo Mennonite Church (Flanagan, Illinois, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1959. Web. 18 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Waldo_Mennonite_Church_(Flanagan,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=174552.
APA style
Hartzler, J. D. (1959). Waldo Mennonite Church (Flanagan, Illinois, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 18 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Waldo_Mennonite_Church_(Flanagan,_Illinois,_USA)&oldid=174552.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 877. All rights reserved.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.