Glade's History

     The conception of the Glade Mennonite Church can be traced to as early as 1899, when a "mission station" Sunday School began in the Beachy Schoolhouse. It was another 9 years, in 1908, that land was donated and a church building (40' x 26') was erected and named the Glade Mennonite Church. Even though the name "Mennonite" was adopted, the every-other-Sunday worship services reflected the diversity of denominations in the Bittinger community. Due to rutted roads, harsh winter, and horse & buggy as the common mode of transportation, persons generally attended the closest available worship service. Origingal members came from Church of the Brethren, Amish, Lutherans, and Mennonites. Much has changed over the years, but Glade continues to have many members that have other than Mennonite backgrounds.

     Pastoral leadership consisited of "supply pastors" every other Sunday until 1935. Issac Metzler became the congregation's first regular pastor; serving 20 years. In the 35 years that followed, a number of pastors served the rural Allegheny Conference church. By the early 1970s, the congregation had outgrown the original sturcture; requiring a leap of faith, around $75,000, and much volunteer labor to construct the current meetinghouse- dedicated in 1973.

    Glade Mennonite Church is still a rural congregation, made up largely of middle-age, blue-collar families, with many young people, a heart for mission & service, generosity in giving, and willing servants of God.