John Weaver Wenger was the founder of the Pentecostal Church of the Brethren, popularly known as the Wengerites

Wengerites

Wengerites were an offshoot of the River Brethren started in Montgomery County, Ohio and peaking at 15 congregations. They broke from the River Brethren in 1836 over issues of closed communion and meetinghouses. They are named for John Wenger, the leader who initiated the separation. In 1861 part...

. Wenger was born in Bethel Township

Bethel Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania

Bethel Township is a township in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the Lebanon, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,526 at the 2000 census...

, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, USA.

In 1799, Wenger married Anna Long. They had nine children. She died in 1819. After this he married Sarah Hahn. In 1824, Wenger moved with his wife and children to Montgomery County, Ohio

Montgomery County, Ohio

Montgomery County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 535,153 in the 2010 Census. It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada. The county seat is Dayton...

.

Shortly after this he formed a congregation of the River Brethren

River Brethren

The River Brethren is a name used to indicate certain Christian groups originating in 1770, during a revival movement among German colonizers in Pennsylvania....

there along with Samuel Herr. In 1838, Wenger broke with the River Brethren over issues of communion and formed a new church.