OUR HISTORY

The Maple Grove Mennonite Church began in 1868 as a progressive split from Amish Church under the leadership of Bishop Solomon Byler and Samuel Yoder.

Maple Grove was seen as progressive when the first Sunday School was organized among the Mennonite churches in 1871 by David Zook. In 1947, the church initiated a Sunday morning broadcast over a Lewistown radio station, with music being furnished by a variety of choral groups. Having a piano and, later, an organ as accompaniment was also a progressive move in an age when acapella was encouraged. The Church also placed women in leadership roles. It was because of these, and other progressive decisions over the years, Maple Grove developed a reputation as the “Hollywood” church among Mennonite churches in the valley.

Maple Grove was instrumental in planting the Barrville Mennonite Church and has always had an interest in missions, locally and abroad. Maple Grove has also been known as a church that produces leadership. Alan Kauffman, pastor from 2003-2023, was the result of intentional leadership search and development in the mid-1980s under the leadership of Robert Hartzler. Many current pastors came from Maple Grove.

The current building was built in 1956, with an education wing and fellowship hall added in 1991. Maple Grove joined the Lancaster Mennonite Conference (LMC) in 2017, after having been a member of Allegheny Mennonite Conference for many years.