Old Order Mennonite Groups in Ontario

The following is a brief Introduction and timeline of Old Order Mennonite Groups in Ontario, Canada.

Old Order Mennonite Church

Established in 1889, the Old Order Mennonite Church in Ontario was a division from the (Old) Mennonite Church (now Mennonite Church-Canada). Throughout the mid 1800s, several of the more traditional Mennonites in Waterloo County (in southwestern Ontario) felt increasingly uncomfortable with changes in the church, including revival meetings, the addition of Sunday Schools, and prayer and other services in English.

The Old Order Mennonite Church, the oldest and largest of the Old Order Mennonite groups in Ontario, is today a moderately traditional group. Like most Old Order Mennonites, they utilize horse and buggy transportation, and wear plain clothes. They do use tractors on their farms, as well as electricity and phones in their homes. Some use of computerized technology is tolerated but not condoned, in modern tractors for example. However, cell phones and laptops are not permitted. The Old Order Mennonite Church uses private church run health insurance, and has its own church schools to grade 8. Over the years they have expanded into several other communites in Ontario, and are in fellowship with Old Order Mennonite groups in several states in the United States.

Independent Old Order Mennonite Church

The Independent Old Order Mennonite Church (formerly known as the David Martin Mennonite Church), was established in 1917, as a division from the Old Order Mennonite Church.