Fretz, J.C. (1953) "Bertie Township" (Welland County, Ontario Canada)
Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online.
BERTIE Township (WELLAND COUNTY, ONTARIO, CANADA)
Bertie Township, Ontario, the center of a now extinct Mennonite Church Settlement, called the Bertie Congregation Throught most of its history. Into this settlement lying west of Buffalo across the Niagara River in Ontario, Mennonites mograted from Eastern Pennsylvania as early as 1788. The main center of worship was a church one mile east of Sherkston. Property deeded in 1828 from that time served for church building and Cemetery purposes. The first church was a log building which about 30 years. By 1860 the log meetinghouse had been replaced by a brick church, which served during the greater period of strength and decline. In 1916 another church was erected on the same grounds and from it dated a rivival of interest and attendance for more than a decade, when decline again set in. In 1931 the Mennonites sold this Bertie Church to the Brethren in Christ with burial privileges reserved for the Mennonite families and their descendants.
The first Leader of the Bertie Congregation was preacher George Zavitz, son of pioneer Jacob Zavitz who came to Canada in 1788. Other preachers during the succeeding years were John Zavitz (1798 to 1872), John B. Hershey (1816-1904), Benjamin Hershey (1826 to 1888), Christian Hershey (1768 to 1845), Nelson Michael (1843 to 1923), Howard Stevanus, Noah Hunsberger, and Simon Martin. Bishop John Lapp of Clarence, New York made a definite contribution to thehe strenght and life of this church by visits and oversight. In 1865 he made a conference-wide appeal in behalf of the ministerial need of the congregation.
Among the reasons for varying strenght and loss was the problem of leadership and the problem of language. Bertie had a few strong leaders able to promote harmony and growth. Others were less capable and a few definitely in incapable. Schism had its part and some leaders were interested in other groups and organizations. The General Conference Mennonites had a congregation for a time in the northern part of the township. The United Brethren Church took rise and grew in strength while the Mennonites hesitated on the use of Englis Language. The Brethren in Christ (Tunker, River Brethren) had their strong leader for Ontario in this area. And so the Mennonite Church in its hundred years in Bertie Township experienced more loss than growth, until eventually al Mennonite families have withdrawn, or become than absorbed in other local organizations.
Added 30 May 2022
Suggested edit: Children :
Priscilla Zavitz 1821–1888
Joseph I. Zavitz 1823–1887
Mary Zavitz 1826–1881
Jesse Zavitz 1828–1908
James Zavitz 1831–1905
Christiana Zavitz 1834–1882
John Zavitz 1837–1911
William Zavitz 1840–1882
Daniel M Zavitz 1843–1924
Edward Marshall Zavitz 1845–1893
Contributor: Joan Donnelly Ellis (48058555)
Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online.
BERTIE Township (WELLAND COUNTY, ONTARIO, CANADA)
Bertie Township, Ontario, the center of a now extinct Mennonite Church Settlement, called the Bertie Congregation Throught most of its history. Into this settlement lying west of Buffalo across the Niagara River in Ontario, Mennonites mograted from Eastern Pennsylvania as early as 1788. The main center of worship was a church one mile east of Sherkston. Property deeded in 1828 from that time served for church building and Cemetery purposes. The first church was a log building which about 30 years. By 1860 the log meetinghouse had been replaced by a brick church, which served during the greater period of strength and decline. In 1916 another church was erected on the same grounds and from it dated a rivival of interest and attendance for more than a decade, when decline again set in. In 1931 the Mennonites sold this Bertie Church to the Brethren in Christ with burial privileges reserved for the Mennonite families and their descendants.
The first Leader of the Bertie Congregation was preacher George Zavitz, son of pioneer Jacob Zavitz who came to Canada in 1788. Other preachers during the succeeding years were John Zavitz (1798 to 1872), John B. Hershey (1816-1904), Benjamin Hershey (1826 to 1888), Christian Hershey (1768 to 1845), Nelson Michael (1843 to 1923), Howard Stevanus, Noah Hunsberger, and Simon Martin. Bishop John Lapp of Clarence, New York made a definite contribution to thehe strenght and life of this church by visits and oversight. In 1865 he made a conference-wide appeal in behalf of the ministerial need of the congregation.
Among the reasons for varying strenght and loss was the problem of leadership and the problem of language. Bertie had a few strong leaders able to promote harmony and growth. Others were less capable and a few definitely in incapable. Schism had its part and some leaders were interested in other groups and organizations. The General Conference Mennonites had a congregation for a time in the northern part of the township. The United Brethren Church took rise and grew in strength while the Mennonites hesitated on the use of Englis Language. The Brethren in Christ (Tunker, River Brethren) had their strong leader for Ontario in this area. And so the Mennonite Church in its hundred years in Bertie Township experienced more loss than growth, until eventually al Mennonite families have withdrawn, or become than absorbed in other local organizations.
Added 30 May 2022
Suggested edit: Children :
Priscilla Zavitz 1821–1888
Joseph I. Zavitz 1823–1887
Mary Zavitz 1826–1881
Jesse Zavitz 1828–1908
James Zavitz 1831–1905
Christiana Zavitz 1834–1882
John Zavitz 1837–1911
William Zavitz 1840–1882
Daniel M Zavitz 1843–1924
Edward Marshall Zavitz 1845–1893
Contributor: Joan Donnelly Ellis (48058555)
Fretz, J.C. (1953) "Bertie Township" (Welland County, Ontario Canada)
Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online.
BERTIE Township (WELLAND COUNTY, ONTARIO, CANADA)
Bertie Township, Ontario, the center of a now extinct Mennonite Church Settlement, called the Bertie Congregation Throught most of its history. Into this settlement lying west of Buffalo across the Niagara River in Ontario, Mennonites mograted from Eastern Pennsylvania as early as 1788. The main center of worship was a church one mile east of Sherkston. Property deeded in 1828 from that time served for church building and Cemetery purposes. The first church was a log building which about 30 years. By 1860 the log meetinghouse had been replaced by a brick church, which served during the greater period of strength and decline. In 1916 another church was erected on the same grounds and from it dated a rivival of interest and attendance for more than a decade, when decline again set in. In 1931 the Mennonites sold this Bertie Church to the Brethren in Christ with burial privileges reserved for the Mennonite families and their descendants.
The first Leader of the Bertie Congregation was preacher George Zavitz, son of pioneer Jacob Zavitz who came to Canada in 1788. Other preachers during the succeeding years were John Zavitz (1798 to 1872), John B. Hershey (1816-1904), Benjamin Hershey (1826 to 1888), Christian Hershey (1768 to 1845), Nelson Michael (1843 to 1923), Howard Stevanus, Noah Hunsberger, and Simon Martin. Bishop John Lapp of Clarence, New York made a definite contribution to thehe strenght and life of this church by visits and oversight. In 1865 he made a conference-wide appeal in behalf of the ministerial need of the congregation.
Among the reasons for varying strenght and loss was the problem of leadership and the problem of language. Bertie had a few strong leaders able to promote harmony and growth. Others were less capable and a few definitely in incapable. Schism had its part and some leaders were interested in other groups and organizations. The General Conference Mennonites had a congregation for a time in the northern part of the township. The United Brethren Church took rise and grew in strength while the Mennonites hesitated on the use of Englis Language. The Brethren in Christ (Tunker, River Brethren) had their strong leader for Ontario in this area. And so the Mennonite Church in its hundred years in Bertie Township experienced more loss than growth, until eventually al Mennonite families have withdrawn, or become than absorbed in other local organizations.
Added 30 May 2022
Suggested edit: Children :
Priscilla Zavitz 1821–1888
Joseph I. Zavitz 1823–1887
Mary Zavitz 1826–1881
Jesse Zavitz 1828–1908
James Zavitz 1831–1905
Christiana Zavitz 1834–1882
John Zavitz 1837–1911
William Zavitz 1840–1882
Daniel M Zavitz 1843–1924
Edward Marshall Zavitz 1845–1893
Contributor: Joan Donnelly Ellis (48058555)
Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online.
BERTIE Township (WELLAND COUNTY, ONTARIO, CANADA)
Bertie Township, Ontario, the center of a now extinct Mennonite Church Settlement, called the Bertie Congregation Throught most of its history. Into this settlement lying west of Buffalo across the Niagara River in Ontario, Mennonites mograted from Eastern Pennsylvania as early as 1788. The main center of worship was a church one mile east of Sherkston. Property deeded in 1828 from that time served for church building and Cemetery purposes. The first church was a log building which about 30 years. By 1860 the log meetinghouse had been replaced by a brick church, which served during the greater period of strength and decline. In 1916 another church was erected on the same grounds and from it dated a rivival of interest and attendance for more than a decade, when decline again set in. In 1931 the Mennonites sold this Bertie Church to the Brethren in Christ with burial privileges reserved for the Mennonite families and their descendants.
The first Leader of the Bertie Congregation was preacher George Zavitz, son of pioneer Jacob Zavitz who came to Canada in 1788. Other preachers during the succeeding years were John Zavitz (1798 to 1872), John B. Hershey (1816-1904), Benjamin Hershey (1826 to 1888), Christian Hershey (1768 to 1845), Nelson Michael (1843 to 1923), Howard Stevanus, Noah Hunsberger, and Simon Martin. Bishop John Lapp of Clarence, New York made a definite contribution to thehe strenght and life of this church by visits and oversight. In 1865 he made a conference-wide appeal in behalf of the ministerial need of the congregation.
Among the reasons for varying strenght and loss was the problem of leadership and the problem of language. Bertie had a few strong leaders able to promote harmony and growth. Others were less capable and a few definitely in incapable. Schism had its part and some leaders were interested in other groups and organizations. The General Conference Mennonites had a congregation for a time in the northern part of the township. The United Brethren Church took rise and grew in strength while the Mennonites hesitated on the use of Englis Language. The Brethren in Christ (Tunker, River Brethren) had their strong leader for Ontario in this area. And so the Mennonite Church in its hundred years in Bertie Township experienced more loss than growth, until eventually al Mennonite families have withdrawn, or become than absorbed in other local organizations.
Added 30 May 2022
Suggested edit: Children :
Priscilla Zavitz 1821–1888
Joseph I. Zavitz 1823–1887
Mary Zavitz 1826–1881
Jesse Zavitz 1828–1908
James Zavitz 1831–1905
Christiana Zavitz 1834–1882
John Zavitz 1837–1911
William Zavitz 1840–1882
Daniel M Zavitz 1843–1924
Edward Marshall Zavitz 1845–1893
Contributor: Joan Donnelly Ellis (48058555)
Family Members
Siblings
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