The Gnadenau Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church (see Krimmer Mennonite Brethren) was organized 21 September 1869, in the Crimea, Russia, when 18 were baptized on their faith. To preserve the tenets of their faith this entire group of about 40 members immigrated to America in 1874 and settled in Marion County, Kansas, and named the settlement Gnadenau.

They continued to hold their services in the homes or in school. The first church was a small sod building with thatched roof. In 1876 a frame building was constructed and a little later another wing was added, making the building T-shaped. In 1895 this building was torn down and a more modern building was constructed two miles south of Hillsboro, which was still in use by a congregation of 155 members in the second half of the 20th century.

Jacob A. Wiebe was the first elder, serving 1874-1900. An outstanding minister was Johann J. Harder 1874-1899. Wiebe was followed by Heinrich Wiebe 1900-1910, J. J. Friesen 1911-1934, F. V. Wiebe 1935-1945, Ezra P. Barkman 1946-1947, George L. Classen 1948-1950, Edward Epp 1950-1952, D. V. Wiebe and P. R. Lange 1952-1955.

In November 1954 the Lehigh Mennonite Brethren Church and the Gnadenau K.M.B. Church consolidated and then worshiped as the Gnadenau Mennonite Brethren Church. The combined membership in 1955 was 155, with David V. Wiebe as leader.

Wiebe, David V. "Gnadenau Krimmer Mennonite Brethren Church (Hillsboro, Kansas, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1956. Web. 7 Mar 2026. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Gnadenau_Krimmer_Mennonite_Brethren_Church_(Hillsboro,_Kansas,_USA)&oldid=141132