The Church of the Brethren was founded in 1708 in Europe, and by 1778 Brethren met annually to determine church policy. The first annual meeting in Indiana was held in Elkhart County in 1852. North Manchester Church of the Brethren hosted annual meetings in 1878, 1888, and 1900, with the last two held here in Harter's Grove. These gatherings had an enormous social and economic impact on the area. Business meetings and preaching by prominent Brethren leaders drew thousands from the U.S. In a fair-like atmosphere, visitors had access to modern conveniences of the time, including electric lamps in 1888. Area residents cooperated in providing visitors with housing, transportation, vast quantities of food, goods, and clean running water.