Timeline
The German Baptist Brethren (also known as Dunkers) began immigrating to the United States in the 1700s, primarily to escape religious persecution in Europe, with the first congregation organized in Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1723.
↠ 1708: The Schwarzenau Brethren, later known as the German Baptist Brethren, were formed in Berleburg, Germany, under the leadership of Alexander Mack.
↠ 1719: Peter Becker led a group to settle in Pennsylvania, followed by other groups in 1729 and 1733.
↠ 1720: Alexander Mack led another group of Brethren to the Netherlands, but later they also emigrated to Pennsylvania.
↠ 1723: Peter Becker organized the first American congregation at Germantown, Pennsylvania.
↠ 1728: Conrad Beissel, a Brethren minister, formed the Ephrata Cloister, a mystical group within the Brethren tradition.
↠ 1729: Most Brethren left Europe for America in three separate groups from 1719 to 1733.
↠ 1740s: Brethren began to move westward, settling in areas like New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia.
↠ 1743: Christoph Sauer, an early pastor, printed a Bible in German, the first published in a European language in North America.
↠ 1782: The Brethren forbade slaveholding by its members.
↠ 1836: The Annual Meeting called itself "The Fraternity of German Baptist Brethren".
↠ 1860s-1870s: Traditionalists among the Brethren opposed innovations like revival meetings, Sunday schools, and foreign missionary work, leading to the formation of the Old German Baptist Brethren in 1881.
↠ 1871: The denomination adopted the name "The German Baptist Brethren Church".
↠ 1880: The German Baptist Brethren grew from a small sect of about 1,500 German-speaking members in 1790 to a mainly English-speaking church with about 58,000 members in 500 congregations.
↠ 1881: The German Baptist Brethren split from the Old German Baptist Brethren in 1921, when members of the latter began to adopt automobiles.
↠ 1883: Progressive Brethren, led by Henry Holsinger, organized The Brethren Church.
↠ 1908: The German Baptist Brethren changed their name to the Church of the Brethren.
↠ 1921: The Old Order German Baptist Brethren split from the Old German Baptist Brethren, emphasizing strict adherence to tradition.
↠ 1926: The Dunkard Brethren emerged.
↠ 1939: Grace Brethren emerged.
↠ 1960: New Brethren emerged
↠ 1708: The Schwarzenau Brethren, later known as the German Baptist Brethren, were formed in Berleburg, Germany, under the leadership of Alexander Mack.
↠ 1719: Peter Becker led a group to settle in Pennsylvania, followed by other groups in 1729 and 1733.
↠ 1720: Alexander Mack led another group of Brethren to the Netherlands, but later they also emigrated to Pennsylvania.
↠ 1723: Peter Becker organized the first American congregation at Germantown, Pennsylvania.
↠ 1728: Conrad Beissel, a Brethren minister, formed the Ephrata Cloister, a mystical group within the Brethren tradition.
↠ 1729: Most Brethren left Europe for America in three separate groups from 1719 to 1733.
↠ 1740s: Brethren began to move westward, settling in areas like New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia.
↠ 1743: Christoph Sauer, an early pastor, printed a Bible in German, the first published in a European language in North America.
↠ 1782: The Brethren forbade slaveholding by its members.
↠ 1836: The Annual Meeting called itself "The Fraternity of German Baptist Brethren".
↠ 1860s-1870s: Traditionalists among the Brethren opposed innovations like revival meetings, Sunday schools, and foreign missionary work, leading to the formation of the Old German Baptist Brethren in 1881.
↠ 1871: The denomination adopted the name "The German Baptist Brethren Church".
↠ 1880: The German Baptist Brethren grew from a small sect of about 1,500 German-speaking members in 1790 to a mainly English-speaking church with about 58,000 members in 500 congregations.
↠ 1881: The German Baptist Brethren split from the Old German Baptist Brethren in 1921, when members of the latter began to adopt automobiles.
↠ 1883: Progressive Brethren, led by Henry Holsinger, organized The Brethren Church.
↠ 1908: The German Baptist Brethren changed their name to the Church of the Brethren.
↠ 1921: The Old Order German Baptist Brethren split from the Old German Baptist Brethren, emphasizing strict adherence to tradition.
↠ 1926: The Dunkard Brethren emerged.
↠ 1939: Grace Brethren emerged.
↠ 1960: New Brethren emerged
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