By Paul Burkholder
Rouge Valley Mennonite Church was so named in 1986, when two older, Mennonite congregations joined together for more effective and practical Christian ministry. Both were located in the south east part of the Town of Markham. Both Reesor's meeting house at Steeles Ave. and the Scarborough/Pickering townline, and the Cedar Grove meeting house on the 10th Line (now known as Reesor Road) had been the home congregations of local Mennonite families for over 100 years. As impending development and speculation drove up land prices, some families relocated to western Ontario.
There was a history of cooperation at a number of levels between these churches for events such as Vacation Bible Schools, Mission meetings and women's service activities. A realization came about that it seemed more feasible to combine their efforts at one location. The decision was made to use the Cedar Grove facility, a larger site, located in the hamlet on the bank of the Little Rouge River.
With an increase in attendance and interest from the community, there was a definite need for a larger facility. Inquiries were made to obtain more land from the Ontario Realty Corporation and this was accomplished a few years later when property was purchased to the south of the original site. This gave the new congregation a total of four acres and in 1996 an 8,000 square foot structure was erected just south of the original building. The older structure has been retained as a Christian Education center and called the Cedar Grove Meetinghouse.
The new building is a ground level, accessible facility which contains offices a kitchen, fellowship hall and 250 seat auditorium. A nursery, several classrooms, a large foyer/cloakroom and a well stocked library. Also on site is a "portable", which is designated as "the Youth Hut" for Sunday School and youth fellowship meetings for teens.
The mission statement of the Rouge Valley Congregation is "Welcoming people to Jesus Christ and a caring community". As Christians we aim to be that caring community.
The Spirit of the Pioneers
Rouge Valley Mennonite Church (1996)
The new Rouge Valley Church building was completed in 1996 and was constructed with the help of the members of the congregation and surrounding community. The new facility was completed over a five month period from May to September 1996. As proud as we are of the building we take the most pride in the people. This same caring and helping spirit still lives within the Rouge Valley Church and the community it serves.