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Walnut Hill [[Church of God in Christ, Mennonite (CGC)|Church of God in Christ Mennonite]] Church, located at Walnut Hill, Escambia County, [[Florida (USA)|Florida]], was organized in 1946 by several young home-seekers. It has had a continual growth by others moving in and by additions through baptism. The membership in 1959 was 105. The meetinghouse, which seats 180, was built in 1950. The congregation has an active [[Sewing Circle|sewing circle]]. In the late 1950s Francis Peters and Harry Harms were the ministers, assisted by P. G. Hiebert and the recently ordained Wilbert Peters.
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[[File:Walnut-Hill-Mennonite-Church-2018.jpg|300px|thumb|''Walnut Hill Mennonite Church, 2018.<br />Google Map photo'']]
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The Walnut Hill Mennonite Church in Walnut Hill, [[Florida (USA)|Florida]], USA was established in 1946. The congregation began when families from Gratiot County, [[Michigan (USA)|Michigan]] noted how well new families were doing in Summerdale, [[Alabama (USA)|Alabama]] and decided to colonize in the Walnut Hill area. Cheap land in the post-war era was an attraction. The early settlers harvested virgin pine timber and cleared the remaining stumps.
  
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Initially, families traveled 60 miles to [[Summerdale Church of God in Christ, Mennonite (Summerdale, Alabama, USA)|Summerdale]] for worship, but in late 1946 Minister Francis Peters and family settled in the area and organized the congregation. It first met in an agricultural building, then a school, then a home. Eventually, the Summerdale congregation closed, and many of its remaining members moved to Walnut Hill.
  
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 4, p. 880|date=1959|a1_last=Peters|a1_first=Francis|a2_last= |a2_first= }}
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In view of the congregation's growth, it helped to establish the [[Southern Harbor Mennonite Church (Davisville, Florida, USA)|Southern Harbor Mennonite Church]] in Davisville, Florida.
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The first permanent church building was erected in 1951 on Highway 97 about ten miles southeast of Atmore, Alabama. A new church was built in 1968 and was dedicated on 10 November 1968.
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The congregation built the Walnut Hill Christian School in 1971, about a quarter miles west of the church. It has 48 pupils in the first year. An addition to the school was completed in 1975.
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In 2020 the congregation was part of the [[Church of God in Christ, Mennonite (CGC)|Church of God in Christ, Mennonite]]. The ministers were Mike Koehn and Brian Decker.
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= Bibliography =
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Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. ''Yearbook'' (1995-2020).
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''Histories of the congregations.'' 3rd. ed. Moundridge, Kansas: Gospel Publishers, 1999: 214-217.
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= Additional Information =
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'''Address''': 6840 Highway 97, Walnut Hill, Florida 32568
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'''Phone''': 850-327-4406
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'''Website''':
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'''Denominational Affiliations''':
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[https://churchofgodinchristmennonite.net// Church of God in Christ, Mennonite]
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== Ordained Pastors at the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church ==
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Name !! Years<br/>of Service
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|-
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| Francis Peters (1908-1986) || 1946-1986
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|-
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| Harry H. Harms (1900-1991) || 1950?-1991
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|-
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| Peter G. Hiebert (1896-1979) || 1951-1979
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|-
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| Wilbert Peters || 1958-2015
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|-
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| Verle Peters || 1967-2005
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|-
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| Carlos Koehn || 1983-2018
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|-
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| Galen Harms || 1993-2005
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|-
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| Mike Koehn || 2005-present
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|-
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| Brian Decker || 2008-2012<br />2015-present
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|}
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== Membership at Walnut Hill Mennonite Church ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
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|-
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! Year !! Membership
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|-
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| 1946 || 19
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|-
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| 1959 || 105
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|-
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| 1995 || 201
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|-
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| 2000 || 194
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|-
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| 2010 || 116
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|-
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| 2020 || 112
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|}
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= Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article =
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By Francis Peters. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from ''Mennonite Encyclopedia'', Vol. 4, p. 880. All rights reserved.
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Walnut Hill Church of God in Christ Mennonite Church, located at Walnut Hill, Escambia County, Florida, was organized in 1946 by several young home-seekers. It has had a continual growth by others moving in and by additions through baptism. The membership in 1959 was 105. The meetinghouse, which seats 180, was built in 1950. The congregation has an active sewing circle. In the late 1950s Francis Peters and Harry Harms were the ministers, assisted by P. G. Hiebert and the recently ordained Wilbert Peters.
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=December 2020|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
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[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:Church of God in Christ, Mennonite Congregations]]
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[[Category:Florida Congregations]]
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[[Category:United States Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 12:59, 4 January 2021

Walnut Hill Mennonite Church, 2018.
Google Map photo

The Walnut Hill Mennonite Church in Walnut Hill, Florida, USA was established in 1946. The congregation began when families from Gratiot County, Michigan noted how well new families were doing in Summerdale, Alabama and decided to colonize in the Walnut Hill area. Cheap land in the post-war era was an attraction. The early settlers harvested virgin pine timber and cleared the remaining stumps.

Initially, families traveled 60 miles to Summerdale for worship, but in late 1946 Minister Francis Peters and family settled in the area and organized the congregation. It first met in an agricultural building, then a school, then a home. Eventually, the Summerdale congregation closed, and many of its remaining members moved to Walnut Hill.

In view of the congregation's growth, it helped to establish the Southern Harbor Mennonite Church in Davisville, Florida.

The first permanent church building was erected in 1951 on Highway 97 about ten miles southeast of Atmore, Alabama. A new church was built in 1968 and was dedicated on 10 November 1968.

The congregation built the Walnut Hill Christian School in 1971, about a quarter miles west of the church. It has 48 pupils in the first year. An addition to the school was completed in 1975.

In 2020 the congregation was part of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. The ministers were Mike Koehn and Brian Decker.

Bibliography

Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. Yearbook (1995-2020).

Histories of the congregations. 3rd. ed. Moundridge, Kansas: Gospel Publishers, 1999: 214-217.

Additional Information

Address: 6840 Highway 97, Walnut Hill, Florida 32568

Phone: 850-327-4406

Website:

Denominational Affiliations:

Church of God in Christ, Mennonite

Ordained Pastors at the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church

Name Years
of Service
Francis Peters (1908-1986) 1946-1986
Harry H. Harms (1900-1991) 1950?-1991
Peter G. Hiebert (1896-1979) 1951-1979
Wilbert Peters 1958-2015
Verle Peters 1967-2005
Carlos Koehn 1983-2018
Galen Harms 1993-2005
Mike Koehn 2005-present
Brian Decker 2008-2012
2015-present

Membership at Walnut Hill Mennonite Church

Year Membership
1946 19
1959 105
1995 201
2000 194
2010 116
2020 112

Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article

By Francis Peters. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 880. All rights reserved.

Walnut Hill Church of God in Christ Mennonite Church, located at Walnut Hill, Escambia County, Florida, was organized in 1946 by several young home-seekers. It has had a continual growth by others moving in and by additions through baptism. The membership in 1959 was 105. The meetinghouse, which seats 180, was built in 1950. The congregation has an active sewing circle. In the late 1950s Francis Peters and Harry Harms were the ministers, assisted by P. G. Hiebert and the recently ordained Wilbert Peters.


Author(s) Samuel J Steiner
Date Published December 2020

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steiner, Samuel J. "Walnut Hill Mennonite Church (Walnut Hill, Florida, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. December 2020. Web. 25 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Walnut_Hill_Mennonite_Church_(Walnut_Hill,_Florida,_USA)&oldid=169671.

APA style

Steiner, Samuel J. (December 2020). Walnut Hill Mennonite Church (Walnut Hill, Florida, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 25 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Walnut_Hill_Mennonite_Church_(Walnut_Hill,_Florida,_USA)&oldid=169671.



©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

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