Chiques Church is a non-denotational, Bible believing church that separated from the Church of the Brethren in 2020 and became independent. This separation was due to theological differences regarding the authority of scripture and human sexuality as the Church of the Brethren denomination continued to become more progressive in their theology. Chiques Church has Anabaptist and pietistic roots that stem back to 1708.
1708 - Eight Christians were secretly baptized in Schwarzenau Germany because adult baptisms were illegal at that time. This baptism was the start of the German Baptism Brethren, later known as the Church of the Brethren.
1719 - Due to religious persecution, these Christians moved from Schwarzenau German to Germantown Pennsylvania where the Germantown Church of the Brethren was formed.
1772 - As the church grew, the White Oak Church of the Brethren was formed in Manheim Pennsylvania.
1856 - White Oak Church continued to grow until it was decided to form yet another congregation called Chiques Church of the Brethren. This new congregation met in what was known as the Stern’s or Chiques Creek Meetinghouse.
1882 - This simple structure was replaced with a more substantial white frame “love feast house” which included kitchen facilities to prepare for the semi-annual love feast services (otherwise known as the Lord’s Supper or Communion).
1902 - As the Chiques congregation continued to grow, it was decided to form three congregations known as East Fairview, Elizabethtown and West Green Tree. The Chiques congregation continued on worshiping in two meetinghouses by alternating worship between meetinghouses at Chiques and Mount Hope (now the Mount Hope Nazarene Home).
1954 - Chiques converted the white frame meetinghouse into a more substantial brick structure that included a larger sanctuary, a basement fellowship hall and a narthex with a few small children’s Sunday School rooms. Services at Mt. Hope were soon discontinued and worship was consolidated at the Chiques church.
1976 - Chiques built a two-story educational wing on the south side of the facility for children and youth Sunday School classes.
2003 - A Church Growth Committee was appointed to examine future growth of the Church Church. As a result, it was decided that several members of Chiques would leave and form a church plant known as New Beginnings Christian Fellowship which presently meets in Manheim, Pennsylvania.
2009 - an addition was built consisting of many Sunday School rooms, commercial kitchen, office spaces and a family life center.
