Fonthill in Pelham in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Brethren in Christ Church
⎯⎯⎯
L’Église de la Fraternité Chrétienne

The Brethren in Christ Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

1. The Brethren in Christ Church Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

A distinctive religious denomination similar in doctrine and practice to Mennonite assemblies, the Brethren in Christ Church emerged in Pennsylvania during the 1770s. It was established in Upper Canada in 1788 when Johannes Wenger (John Winger), who later became a bishop, and Jacob Sider formed a congregation here in the Short Hills. The denomination advocated adult conversion and baptism, and rejected secular pleasures, fashionable dress, and political and military involvement. A small, tightly knit religious group because of these strongly held views, the Brethren in Christ Church grew slowly, drawing its members, popularly known as Tunkers, primarily from German-speaking rural communities. By the end of the 19th century, however, it was firmly established in Welland, York, Waterloo and Simcoe counties.

L'Église de la fraternité chrétienne, établie en Pennsylvanie pendant les années 1770, est une confession religieuse dont la doctrine et la pratique s'apparentent à celles des Mennonites. Ses origines dans le Haut-Canada remontent à 1788, date à laquelle Johannes Wenger (John Winger) et Jacob Sider forment

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une congrégation dans les Short Hills. Cette confession prône la conversion et le baptême à l'âge adulte et condamne les plaisirs profanes, l'habillement à la mode et la participation à la vie politique et militaire. À l'origine un petit groupement aux liens très serrés de par ses solides convictions, l’Église de la fraternité chrétienne se développe lentement, recrutant ses adeptes, dits communément "Tunkers", essentiellement dans des collectivités rurales d'expression allemande. Dès la fin du XIXe siècle, l’Église est solidement établie dans les comtés de Welland, York, Waterloo et Simcoe.

Erected by Ontario Heritage Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1788.

Location. 43° 3.735′ N, 79° 18.271′ W. Marker is in Pelham, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Fonthill. It is on Metler Road half a kilometer east of Effingham Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or

The Brethren in Christ Church / L’Église de la Fraternité Chrétienne Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

2. The Brethren in Christ Church / L’Église de la Fraternité Chrétienne Marker

near this postal address: 208 Metler Road, Pelham ON L0S 1M0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Dexter D’Everardo (approx. 2.6 kilometers away); St. Johns (approx. 2.8 kilometers away); The Reverend Daniel W. Eastman (approx. 3 kilometers away); The Comfort Maple (approx. 3.4 kilometers away); Fonthill Nurseries (1837-1968) (approx. 3.6 kilometers away); W.W. 1 German Trench Mortar (approx. 3.8 kilometers away); Pelham Cenotaph (approx. 3.8 kilometers away); Pelham Quaker Settlement (approx. 4.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pelham.

Also see . . . Wenger, Johannes (Dictionary of Canadian Biography).

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 7, 2024

3. The Brethren in Christ Church / L’Église de la Fraternité Chrétienne Marker

Wenger appears to have held the offices of elder and overseer (bishop) on his arrival in the Niagara Peninsula. Under his leadership a small congregation was established at Short Hills, and on his removal to Bertie Township the largest Upper Canadian congregation was formed. As meetings were held in homes or barns, church buildings were not immediately required. Wenger did set aside a plot on his farm, on the banks of Black Creek, for a cemetery.

(Submitted on November 8, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 8, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 147 times since then and 35 times this year. Last updated on September 14, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 8, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

The Brethren in Christ Church⎯⎯⎯L’Église de la Fraternité Chrétienne

The Brethren in Christ Church
⎯⎯⎯
L’Église de la Fraternité Chrétienne