The Grounds of the Salford Mennonite Congregation
Salford Mennonite Church sits on the homelands of the Lenape people, who have stewarded the lands for thousands of years. In 1718 the land was part of a 200-acre purchase by immigrant Mennonite settlers Henrich and Magdalena Ruth from surveyor-speculator David Powell.
The surrounding Perkiomen watershed had been “bought” by William Penn from Lenape headman Maughoughsin in 1684 for two coats, “four pair stockings, and four bottles of sider.”
The surrounding Perkiomen watershed had been “bought” by William Penn from Lenape headman Maughoughsin in 1684 for two coats, “four pair stockings, and four bottles of sider.”
The grounds of the Salford Mennonite Meetinghouse are a gift that we seek to share with the community.
The public is welcome to walk through the paths of the historic cemetery, through the prayer labyrinth, and to utilize the playground on evenings and weekends, when it is not being utilized by the Salford Mennonite Childcare Center.
The public is welcome to walk through the paths of the historic cemetery, through the prayer labyrinth, and to utilize the playground on evenings and weekends, when it is not being utilized by the Salford Mennonite Childcare Center.
Salford Mennonite-Advent Lutheran Church Garden:
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The Salford-Advent Church Garden provides over 10,000 lbs of fresh, organic produce to people in need each year. Over 60 volunteers tend the one-acre garden located on the Salford grounds. Read more about the garden here.
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October 2023 Prayer Service to Rededicate the Stone in the Cemetery
A large stone in our cemetery serves as an explanatory monument to tell the story of the first people who made Salford a congregation - those who donated the land, the first pastor, schoolteacher, and founding families. It was installed as part of an Eagle Scout project by Kevin McCoach in 2015, with support from John Ruth as historian.
As John Ruth’s and our congregation’s consciousness of the Lenape people as the original stewards of this land has grown in recent years, John suggested that this monument be modified to include the words “Built on Lenapehoking” at the top. Lenapehoking can be translated as "homelands of the Lenape people." After this update was completed, we prayed in the cemetery "seeking wisdom to help us listen, learn, and make repair."
As John Ruth’s and our congregation’s consciousness of the Lenape people as the original stewards of this land has grown in recent years, John suggested that this monument be modified to include the words “Built on Lenapehoking” at the top. Lenapehoking can be translated as "homelands of the Lenape people." After this update was completed, we prayed in the cemetery "seeking wisdom to help us listen, learn, and make repair."
| Prayer Service Guide Oct 2023 |
