Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust

The Board of The Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust, which oversees the historic 1770 Meetinghouse at 6133 Germantown Avenue, would like to proclaim its support for the Black Lives Matter Movement and for the ending of systematic racism and police brutality. From the 1688 Protest Against Slavery all the way up to GMHT’s support, collaboration, and participation in the Johnson House-led Juneteenth Celebrations over the past several decades, the Mennonites of Germantown have c...Continue reading

It was wonderful to have visitors from the German Society Of Pennsylvania and from Crefeld, Germany join us on Juneteenth at the Historic 1770-built Germantown Mennonite Church. These representatives came bearing gifts and a banner honoring their ancestors’ role in signing the first formal religious petition against slavery in British North America. Thank you also to the Johnson House for organizing this important day. From left to right: Werner Daniels, Eduard Loers, Craig Stutman, Tony Michels, Patrica Raine

Come out Saturday Morning at 10am for a discussion about Mennonites and the Anti-Slavery Movement!

We had two very special visitors todaydescendants of the Keyser and Rittenhouse families! William Rittenhouse and Dirck Keyser both came to the Germantown settlement in 1687, and were among the first Mennonite ministers of the Germantown Mennonite Congregation. Today’s visitors both showed up (uncannily) at the same time! Amazing!

Germantown Mennonite Historic Trust, looking southeast toward First Presbyterian Church in Kensington - Winter solstice sunrise, 2017.

GMHT Board member Devin Manzullo-Thomas' wonderful piece on the Philadelphia Mennonites and their history has just been published in the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia.

Coming to our candlelight carol sing tonight? Don’t forget to bring some travel sized toiletries for our collection for Historic Germantown’s holiday charity drive, to benefit Face to Face Germantown. Let’s fill up this box!