1830

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

 

From 1830 to 1850, a large number of Amish and Mennonite families settled along the Mackinaw River and in the northwest corner of what is now McLean County. These families worshipped in homes, as was the custom. In 1853, an Amish congregation led by Jonathan Yoder grew too large to meet in homes, and built a church just south of Rock Creek, in the approximate center of the church community. This church house was called the Rock Creek Meetinghouse, and the congregation was called the “Rock Creek Amish”, or “Yoder” Church.

 

 

1872

GROWTH & BUILDING

 

By 1872, under the guidance of Jonathan Yoder and Joseph Stuckey, the congregation had grown too large for the Rock Creek Meetinghouse. A new, larger meetinghouse was built and named the North Danvers Church. The congregation was called the “North Danvers” or “Stuckey Amish” Church. Over time, the congregation became more progressive, demonstrating, "a concern for what people have in their heads and hearts, rather than for what they have on their heads ... an emphasis on heart attitudes, rather than on the outward forms ... church workers called to be ambassadors of Christ through the will of God."

 

 

 

1872-1926

 

From 1872 to 1926, remarkable activity was shown by North Danvers ministers in reaching out to congregations in Illinois, Indiana, Idaho, Michigan, Kansas, and Nebraska, organizing Sunday Schools and counseling emerging churches. Joseph Stuckey traveled to the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Michigan, Kansas, and Missouri, in the interests of needy churches, ordaining ministers and bishops, dedicating churches, counseling emerging congregations, and establish new congregations. Peter Schantz assisted in organizing churches and starting Sunday Schools, mostly in central Illinois. At first, these churches were frequently referred to as the "Stuckey Churches".

 

1899

 

Beginning in 1899, members from several of the churches in this group met together informally on an annual basis for "discussion and mutual guidance".

 

1907

ESTABLISHMENT

 

By 1907, twelve churches were involved in the annual meetings. At this time, the group formally organized as the Central Illinois Conference of Mennonites, and “Amish” was officially dropped from the North Danvers Church name.
Through the organization of the Central Conference, support was provided for ministers and Sunday School teachers, several rural and urban churches were established, as well as the Mennonite Nursing Hospital in Bloomington, Illinois and an elderly care facility in Meadows, Illinois. Bluffton College and Witmarsum Theological Seminary (reorganized in 1945 as the Mennonite Biblical Seminary) were founded.

 

 

1957

 

In 1957, North Danvers helped host the conference in which the Central Conference and Middle District Conference merged to form the Central District Conference of the General Conference Mennonite Church.

 

 

The North Danvers Church building was renovated in 1910 and 1917. A new addition was added in 1965, and a heat pump installed in 2012.

 

In 1880, a cemetery was started to the east of the church.

In 1953, the North Danvers congregation held a centennial celebration of the 100 years since the Rock Creek Meetinghouse was built.

In 1982, A Goodly Heritage: A History of the North Danvers Mennonite Church by Steven R. Estes, was published, to help highlight North Danvers' homecoming celebration. The sequel, A Goodly Heritage II: Our Journey Continues, by the same author, was published in 2009.

 

 

 

2001

 

In 2001, North Danvers Church celebrated their 150th anniversary, inviting all congregations with a Stuckey Amish origin to participate in the festivities. Nine churches planned and implemented a weekend of celebration and renewal.
 

 

TODAY

Commitment

The congregation has an active program of fellowship activities:

• choir groups: men's choir, hand chimes, regular choir

• God's Little Acre Preschool

• Sunday School

• Women of Worth - women's group

  

 

North Danvers joins with other churches for the following community activities:

• Trailblazers - junior youth group

• Angels Without Wings - high school youth group

• Danvers Food Pantry

• Vacation Bible School

• Peace Meals

• Food Resource Bank

• Habitat for Humanity

 

Through the Mennonite Central Committee, it:

• provides Relief kits to families traumatized by war and disaster

• provides school kits for children in need, and to refugee and displaced children

• participates in the annual Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale, a fundraiser to alleviate suffering at home and abroad

 

The North Danvers Mennonite Church is well aware of its heritage and legacy, but even more so of its Christian mission within the communities it serves.