• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Amish 365
  • About
  • Amish Recipes
  • Amish Culture
  • Amish Marketplace
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Amish Recipes
  • Amish Culture
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Amish Recipes
    • Amish Culture
    • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » The Plain Columns » The Amish Editor

    Amish Church Buildings?

    Published: May 22, 2013 · Updated: Feb 2, 2021 by Kevin Williams | 2 Comments

    The Old Order Amish still worship mainly in church member's homes.  This is a custom that goes back centuries to when the Anabaptists were persecuted for their beliefs and driven "underground" in Europe.  Rather than deal with government harassment, the Amish secretly began worshiping in church member's homes where the government or anti-Anabaptist forces could never interfere again.  Fast-forward centuries to the United States in 2013 and you don't have persecution (at least not in the same direct way...some would argue that government laws curtailing certain practices or imposing onerous requirements does amount to a form of persecution, but that is a post for another day), but the Amish still generally worship in their homes.

    Of course, today there's no attempt to worship in hiding. One can drive the rural roads of Amish country on a Sunday morning and easily pick out where church services are being held by the sea of buggies.  The custom of home-worship has felt fast, but there are some signs that is beginning to change. Do all Old Order groups worship in their homes?  Old Order Mennonites, for the most part, worship in church buildings known as meetinghouses. As do the Old German Baptist Brethren.  The Amish still worship in their homes with a few notable exceptions.

    The Amish settlement in Unity, Maine has a church building.  When I visited in 2013 it was still under construction.  Look at the nice view of the surrounding Maine countryside from the church balcony!  Having a church building makes it easier for Seekers or outsiders to come and check out the faith.  Most Old Order Amish churches eschew outreach and evangelism so not having a meetinghouse is one way to keep that in check.  This group in Maine is a bit more robust in their outreach. "We try to serve as a witness for others," is how one Old Order congregant put it.  I am aware of a few other places where horse-and-buggy Amish maintain a formal church building, but the vast majority still worship in their homes.  Below is a German Baptist Brethren meeting house on Diamond Mill Road in Montgomery County, Ohio

    One trend that is catching on among many groups of Amish is a "community building."  These are used for community potlucks, singings, youth activities, auctions and some are even used for funeral viewings and wedding gatherings.  Some more conservative Amish fear that these buildings could be the beginning of a slow trend towards moving worship away from homes and into meetinghouses.  Other Amish would welcome that trend, because preparing one's home for a large church gathering is a large undertaking that usually falls to a family once or twice a year.

    « Homemade Rhubarb Juice
    Amish in the News (And Some Commentary) »

    About Kevin Williams

    Hi, my name is Kevin Williams and I am owner of Oasis Newsfeatures and editor of The Amish Cook newspaper column.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kentuckylady717

      May 22, 2013 at 5:18 pm

      Hmmmmm I had no idea they had churches.....to me this is much better for everyone.....
      Is this something new they have started ?

      Reply
    2. Julia

      May 23, 2013 at 8:41 am

      Now i will have to find that German Baptist Brethren one in Montgomery Cty. so close.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Kevin Williams - The Amish Editor Amish Cook Column

    Hi There, I'm Kevin!

    Welcome to Amish365, where I share my knowledge of Amish cooking and culture! I’ve spent almost three decades exploring Amish settlements and kitchens from Maine to Montana and almost everywhere in between. I’ll occasionally throw in stories of my travels, journalism adventures (I’m a Pulitzer prize-nominated journalist), fascination with grocery stores and Kmarts, and much more!

    More about me →

    Latest Amish Recipes

    • Homemade Chocolate Crunch Easter "Eggs"
      Homemade Coconut Crunch Easter Eggs
    • 5 Amish Copycat Recipes (Fast-Food Favorites: Big Mac Dressing, Pizza Hut, and More!)
    • Amish Wedding Customs and Traditions
    • Amish Wedding Cake
      Amish Wedding Cake Recipe
    dutchcrafters

    Download The "Almost Amish" Ebook

    Footer

    Footer

    About

    • About The Amish Editor
    • Download "Almost Amish" Ebook
    • Amish Communities
    • Amish Marketplace

    Contact

    • Work With Us
    • Contact

    *As a member of various affiliate programs I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2000 - 2020 Amish 365 | Powered by Touch The Road