First Mennonite Church of Christian (Moundridge, Kansas, USA)
First Mennonite Church of Christian (Mennonite Church USA), 719 South Christian, Moundridge, Kansas derived its name from the country village and post office called Christian, near which its church was built, one mile south of what is now Moundridge. It was organized on 26 March 1878, before the advent of the railroad and the founding of Moundridge.
The first church was dedicated on 4 March 1877. Though enlarged in 1880, it was replaced by a new church, which was dedicated on 10 February 1884. In 1908 it was moved a half-mile north into the city limits of Moundridge. A new building of brick was constructed in 1948.
The original settlers were of South German stock who came to this country in 1852 to 1855 and settled in Lee County, Iowa, and at Summerfield, Illinois. In 1874 and the following years many of them moved to Harvey and McPherson counties, Kansas. Later many families of the Swiss Mennonite group that immigrated into Kansas from the province of Volhynia, Polish Russia, in 1874 united with this church.
Valentine Krehbiel served as elder from 1878 to 1901. From 1902 to 1908 John C. Goering served as minister and from 1908 to 1917 as elder.
P. P. Wedel served the Christian Church from 1917 to 1951. He was elder for over 33 years. After his resignation, Edmond J. Miller accepted the call in 1951. In 1950 the congregation dedicated a new church, the sanctuary 37 x 94 ft. and educational wing 30 x 36 ft. In 1953 the congregation had a membership of 275. In 2004 the membership was 215.
| Author(s) | P. P Wedel |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1953 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Wedel, P. P. "First Mennonite Church of Christian (Moundridge, Kansas, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1953. Web. 16 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=First_Mennonite_Church_of_Christian_(Moundridge,_Kansas,_USA)&oldid=121605.
APA style
Wedel, P. P. (1953). First Mennonite Church of Christian (Moundridge, Kansas, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=First_Mennonite_Church_of_Christian_(Moundridge,_Kansas,_USA)&oldid=121605.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 582. All rights reserved.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.