On a quiet stretch of Deep Run Road in Bedminster Township, north of the borough of Perkasie, two Mennonite congregations have worshipped across the street from each other for nearly 175 years. Deep Run West Mennonite Church is the newer of the pair, the fruit of a 19th-century division that, with time, has softened into cooperation. Today the congregation describes itself as small, family-friendly, and rooted in a Mennonite or Anabaptist perspective on following Jesus.
Two Churches Across the Street
The story of Deep Run West begins in 1746, when William Allen deeded fifty acres to a small Mennonite congregation in what was then a wilderness of Bucks County. Within two decades, the settlers replaced the original log meetinghouse with a stone building, then rebuilt that stone church in 1794. For almost a century the original Deep Run body worshipped together on the rolling farmland.
Then in 1847, a division rippled through several Mennonite congregations in eastern Pennsylvania, and Deep Run was among them. The cause was a disagreement over progress. Members who sided with the more progressive views promoted by Reverend John H. Oberholtzer pushed for a written church constitution, Sunday Schools, and the publication of church materials. When those proposals were rebuffed, the progressive members organized a new society in 1848 and received a charter of incorporation from the Court of Bucks County on April 25, 1849, as the Mennonite Society of Deer Run and Plumstead.
The original congregation declined to share the meetinghouse, so the new society met for a time in the Deep Run English Presbyterian Church while it built its own brick meetinghouse, completed in 1849. Over time the two congregations became known as Old Order Mennonites (Deep Run East) and New Order Mennonites (Deep Run West). A century later, Deep Run East embraced many of the very practices that had caused the original division. The two congregations still share services each year and have their own specialties.
Sunday Mornings at Deep Run West
Worship begins at 10:30 AM on Sunday mornings, with Sunday School for all ages meeting at 9:15 AM. The church describes its services as a balance of casual and traditional, blending classic hymns with contemporary praise music. The sanctuary is accessible for individuals with disabilities, and greeters welcome visitors at the main doors and help direct them to the sanctuary and meeting spaces.
A supervised nursery is provided for infants and toddlers, and a separate Children's Church meets twice a month for children ages four through grade one. Worship services are livestreamed on Facebook so those at home can watch live or revisit past services.
Following Jesus in Daily Life
Deep Run West subscribes to the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, an Anabaptist statement that shapes how members live out their faith. The church highlights four core convictions. Following Jesus in daily life is central. Members believe it is possible to follow Jesus as Lord above nationalism, racism, or materialism. They also believe it is possible to follow Jesus as a peacemaker, practicing the way of Jesus' reconciling love in human conflicts without resorting to violence. And they believe it is possible to live life simply, in service to others, as a witness to God's love for the world.
The church's motto, displayed prominently, reads: "United to accomplish God's mission. Rooted in Christ, alive in God."
Kids Club, Youth Group, and Sunday School
Children and youth are a major focus at Deep Run West. The weekly Kids Club meets Wednesday evenings from September through May for children ages four through grade six. Each week features a Bible story or theme, along with games, crafts, snacks, music, and a special activity tied to the lesson. Children learn Bible verses together and hear the Good News of Jesus in an interactive setting.
The Junior and Senior High Youth Group gathers Wednesday evenings from September through May, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, for students in grades seven through twelve. The group provides a space for young people to develop relationships with peers who share similar values and beliefs, learning about their faith in a supportive environment. The youth also connect with other youth groups in the broader Mennonite conference community, and the church offers off-site events, mission opportunities, and retreats throughout the year.
Sunday School meets at 9:15 AM for all ages. The children's ministry also includes a summer Vacation Bible School filled with Bible learning, crafts, games, and songs, as well as occasional family hikes and picnics and a children's choir during holidays.
Adult Ministries and Growing Together
Beyond Sunday School, adults have several recurring opportunities to gather, study, and pray. The men's ministry hosts a monthly devotional breakfast, and a monthly prayer gathering breakfast brings members together for fellowship and intercession. Women's Bible study meets seasonally, and the women also hold retreats and gatherings throughout the year.
A Care Group focuses on ministering to members who reside at extended-care facilities, meeting once a month at Souderton Mennonite Home to visit and encourage those who can no longer attend services in person.
The Building, the Cemetery, and the Grounds
The present Deep Run West church stands on land near the original Deep Run meetinghouse, and the interior echoes the design of earlier Mennonite meetinghouses, with long benches and divided seating. Adjoining the church is a large, well-filled cemetery, with the first burial in the newer grounds recorded in 1856. Pioneer names like Fretz, Krout, Meyer, Landis, Oberholtzer, Stauffer, Leatherman, and Kulp are among those memorialized in the graveyard.
The church building is also available for weddings, family gatherings, baby showers, and children's birthday parties, and approved non-profit organizations may use the facility at no cost. Couples considering a wedding at Deep Run West contact the church office, and the lead pastor is available for premarital counseling.
Reaching Out: Recovery Meetings and Mission Partners
Deep Run West opens its doors to several recovery and support groups. Alcoholics Anonymous meets at the church on Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 PM, and Nar-Anon meets on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM.
The congregation also partners with a wide network of mission organizations, both financially and through hands-on volunteer work. Community Mission Partners include Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), Pennridge FISH, Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief, Chosen 300, Liberty Ministries, Crossroads Philly, Worm Project, Thrive Lead, and YWAM Montana. Members have participated in MCC's Mobile Meat Canner, where volunteers help can meat that is distributed to communities around the world. The church also occasionally sends groups on youth and adult mission trips, both locally and nationally.
The Pastoral Team and Getting in Touch
Pastor Rodger Schmell leads the congregation alongside a team of ministry leaders. Ryan Borrmann serves as the Worship Music Director. Katie Leatherman is the Youth Leader, and David Cassel serves as Youth Director. Lisa Nase and Sue Cassel co-lead the children's ministry.
The church office is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and closed on Mondays. The address is 1008 Deep Run Road, Perkasie, PA 18944, the phone number is (215) 766-8157, and the main email is deeprunwest@verizon.net. Pastor Rodger can be reached at deeprunwest@gmail.com, and the youth ministry at deeprootsyg@gmail.com. The church also maintains a Facebook page where worship services are livestreamed.