Missions and the New Churches, 1920-1945 / 211

sharing responsibilities with Jacob Oswald till 1955. The present pastor is Harvey Schrock, who began his pastorate in 1956.

The First Mennonite Church of Meadville is the outgrowth of mission work in the city and evangelistic efforts by William S. Detweiler in the mid-1930's. Eli Kramer served as pastor of this church in its early years and through his efforts and those of his son, Raymond, the congregation grew, drawing its members from people of both church and nonchurch backgrounds. Later Herman F. Myers served as pastor of the congregation.

Another congregation to grow with this colonization movement was the Beaverdam Church at Corry. Its origin goes back to a Sunday school organized by Britton Run members in 1940. The first pastor also was Lewis Kletzley who served till 1943, the year the congregation became a member of the conference. Jacob Weirich served as pastor from 1943 till he was replaced ten years later by Kenneth Snyder, who served till 1957, when Richard Hostetler succeeded him. In 1955 a substantial stone church budding was erected.

Since the planting and growth of these churches in northwestern Pennsylvania there have been changes in the communities which affect the churches themselves. No longer is agriculture as dominant as it once was. Members are now employed in a wider variety of occupations in factories and in trades.