300 Years Later...The Story Of Bylerland Mennonite Church

It was an ordinary day.  It was an ordinary day.  Three hundred years ago, a small community of immigrants fleeing religious persecution in Germany and Switzerland came to the region near Pequea Creek in what is now Willow Street in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  The religious refugees formed Byerland Mennonite Church, one of the original Mennonite Congregations in Lancaster County. Recently the church members, including descendants from the original congregation gathered to celebrate three centuries of worship, struggle, challenges and perseverance.  Congregation members Melvin Reitz and Joyce Zimmerman described the church's history from the arrival of Mennonites into the area in the early 18th century - when Lancaster was known as Hickorytown - through to the current day.  "It's interesting how, after 300 years, some things remain the same - only different," Reitz said.  Originally, services were held in the homes of congregation members until a 20-by-14 footlong cabin was constructed around 1747 on land owned by Mennonite Samuel Boyer.

The original meetinghouse still stands across the road from the current building after being moved from its original location in 1949. Zimmerman described how the church faced the challenges of the 20th centuries.  As pacifists, members of the congregation were conscientious objectors during both world wars, serving in the civilian Public Service.  In the 1970s, old Mennonite traditions such as the requirement for members to wear plain clothing and having men and women to sit on opposite sides of the church began to fade.  "Don't hold on too tightly to the old ways of doing things," Zimmerman said. "Twenty or 30 years brings many changes.  Instead, hold on tightly to God."  Joe Garber, who served as pastor of Byerland Mennonite for 26 years, spoke about a dark time in the early 2000s when the congregation dwindled to only 30 to 35 people, filling only the first two pews in the church sanctuary.  

Original deed to the land

The former paster described a bleak meeting with church leaders in which they are told the church was likely to close or be forced to merge with another congregation.  "Byerland was on life support an in critical condition," Garber said.  "We were told in a somber way: Bylerland is dead."  Garber said it was only through the faith and hope of its members that Bylerland Mennonite was able to survive to become an active and growing community.  The anniversary service also highlighted the church's effort to reinstate prominent 18th century preacher Martin Boehm back into the Mennonite Church.  

Byerland Mennonite historic church cemetery

Boehm, a reverend at Byerland and Mennonite bishop, was excommunicated from the Mennonite church in 1775 for preaching to non-Mennonites.  Garber and fellow Rev. Matthew Buckwalter lead the movement to reinstate Boehmn's place in the church.  Boehm was reinstated in 2016, more than 240 years after his excommunication. Garber said the restoration of Boehm had a profound impact on Bylerland and the larger Mennonite community and asked the community to remember the labor and sufferiing of those who came before them.  "Thank You Bylerland for walking with us through these years," Garber said.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

Church pastor Matthew Bye leads the congregation in worship.