Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship

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History

A group of Mennonites – members of a Historic Peace Church – bought a house at 314 E 19th St in 1957 to house conscientious objectors to war while they completed their alternative government service. Since 1977, it has been a residence for church volunteers, students and non-profit workers. It has also served as a hospitality ministry as it provides affordable short-term accommodations for visitors to New York City and others in need of temporary lodging.

Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship started in the late 1970s as Peace Mennonite Fellowship. The church began by meeting at Menno House and in 1982 we committed to meet regularly and renamed the church to Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship, eventually buying Menno House in 1997 and continuing to use the house for office and meeting space.

In 1986, the place of worship moved to its present location in Manhattan’s historic Friends’ Meetinghouse. On Easter 1990, the church signed a covenant accepting accountability to each other before God and joining in the mission of the local Mennonite community, as well as the larger church.

During those early years, Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship became a spiritual home for urban people who struggle with faith and the church, as well as visitors to New York City from around the world. The Fellowship continues to offer all visitors and members a foundation in Christ, the Bible, prayer, and action, as well as a setting in which questions and challenges to traditional thought and practice are welcome.

Today, Menno House is one facet of the ministry of Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship in its Christian outreach to New York City, to the wider Mennonite and ecumenical communities of faith, and to the world. Menno House, operating from a four-story, multi-use, brownstone residence on East 19th Street in Manhattan, is intended by MMF to be a broad ministry of hospitality, a portal through which MMF reaches out to the city and welcomes strangers from far and near into its fellowship. More than merely a set of accommodations, Menno House seeks to welcome its guests and residents in Christian love, to draw them into a special relationship with MMF, with God, and with each other, and to extend the spirit of shalom (peace be with you) to the wider community.

Timeline Highlights

  • 1851 – A townhouse is built on East 19th Street 
  • 1958 – 1W conscientious objectors move into a new Voluntary Service Center 
  • 1966 – Growing Mennonite involvement in New York City 
  • 1976 – The Voluntary Service Center becomes a Mennonite Student Center 
  • 1977 – Prayer of dedication for the Mennonite Student Center 
  • 1997 – Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship purchases Menno House from Eastern Mennonite Missions

1851 – A townhouse is built on East 19th Street (Gleaned from public records in 2004)

  • The house was originally part of farmland with swamp and a small stream.
  • Located on East 19th Street, originally part of Petersfield Farm.
  • Early owners were wealthy widows including Ann Gillett (purchased in 1853) and Bridget C. Duffy (owned until after 1890).
  • By 1900, rented to Foley family; by 1920 rented to Greek and Serbian tenants.
  • Sold to Hungarian couple Charles and Mary Bero in 1926 who converted it into a boarding house.
  • Sold to Joseph J. Sanfillippo in 1953 before purchase by Eastern Mennonite Board in 1958.

1958 – Conscientious Objectors move into new Voluntary Service Center (Contributed by John Kraybill)

  • John Kraybill and family moved into empty building at 314 East 19th Street in September 1958.
  • Building was an SRO with only one full bathroom for all single room occupants.
  • Eastern Mennonite Board purchased property for $34,000 after initial confusion about availability.
  • Renovations included adding bathrooms, removing partitions to make larger rooms for couples, installing fireproof windows, replacing support posts with steel columns, painting inside/outside, installing sprinkler system.
  • The house was renamed from “Mennonite Voluntary Service Center” to “Menno House.”
  • Hosted conscientious objectors serving voluntary service away from home area.

1966 – Growing Mennonite involvement in New York City (Excerpt from Missionary Messenger)

  • NYC was largely unknown to Mennonites but became a growing community with emerging congregations.
  • Three organized congregations plus two witness groups related to Lancaster Conference.
  • Other groups include House of Friendship, Brooklyn congregation, Bronx congregation, Brethren in Christ congregations.
  • At that time there were 17 Voluntary Service workers and 32 Mennonite First-War men in NYC area.
  • VS workers contributed through youth work, teaching, NYU Medical Center service, World Relief Commission.

1976 – The Voluntary Service Center becomes a Mennonite Student Center (Contributed by Myrna Burkholder)

  • Eastern Mennonite Board planned to sell building; residents envisioned it as a student/young adult outreach ministry headquarters.
  • David and Ruth Wenger became co-managers in March 1977; house filled with students and young adults.
  • Furnished via hotel liquidation sales; guest rooms rented out ($5 per night or $4 with sleeping bag).
  • Began publishing bimonthly newsletter “Menno News” starting fall 1977 reporting on dedication service.
  • Early student fellowship activities began in Bronx (Burnside Mennonite Church) October 1975 led by Mel Lehman.
  • Two-track activities: social gatherings sponsored by Student and Young Adult Services; worship/study groups at Menno House leading to Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship formation by January 1983.
  • Manhattan Association of Anabaptist Mennonites (MAAMS) organized special events/seminars on church history.
  • Jewell and Marty Van Ord became house managers after Myrna Burkholder moved out circa late 1980s.

1977 – Prayer of dedication for the Mennonite Student Center (Given by Nathan Showalter)

  • A prayer dedicating Menno House as a place of hospitality, community, principle, discipline, worship, peace-making, faith, love, compassion inspired by Jesus Christ.

1997 – Manhattan Mennonite Fellowship purchases Menno House from Eastern Mennonite Missions (Contributed by Kathy Meulen)

  • MMF began as students living at Menno House; grew into church able to hire pastor John Rempel (arrived NYC from Ontario in 1989).
  • MMF members supported Menno House through live-in managers, board members, voluntary service unit support.
  • Purchased Menno House for $300,000 on November 20,1997 after prayerful discernment despite being a small congregation without own worship space.
  • Fundraising efforts included contributions from fellowship members, residents and guests.