Back in May I wrote about Orthodox Mennonites and the growth of this small ultra-conservative offshoot. I still don't know a ton about this group, but CTV in Canada did a story about them and their movement into the small Ontario community of Renfrew. I would love to go up there and explore sometime. Like other conservative Mennonite churches Orthodox Mennonites are a horse-and-buggy group. But unlike other of the most conservative Mennonites, they do worship in a church building and, interestingly, the Orthodox Mennonite men do wear beards, something most horse and buggy Mennonite men do not usually grow. That said, I also recently found out about Old Order Mennonite men near Rich Hill, Missouri who also grow beards. Click here to read this interesting piece on CTV. In the CTV piece there is a photo of an Orthodox Mennonite man with his full beard and it looks as if he permitted the photograph, so beards and allowing of photography are some interesting differences. This is a photo of an Orthodox Mennonite-owned buggy spotted in Renfrew earlier this year.
Beverly
I wish Mennonites and old order Amish .. and new order etc would come to Washington state!! It is so green here, and there is wonderful farming land!!
Kevin
Beverly, there actually is a Brethren settlement near Pasco....and there is a Plain presence (Amish-Mennonite) near Spokane....About 10 years ago an Old Order Amish family did settle near Moses Lake and they may still live there. But, yes, Washington State has some good spots...I'd look for the growth to continue around Spokane and spread out in Washington from there over the next decade or so....