1947–1993.
17.5 cm of textual records, 2 microfilm reels.
Administrative history
Broadway Mennonite Brethren Church, located in Chilliwack, BC, began as a daughter church of the East Chilliwack Mennonite Brethren Church. In the late 1940s, East Chilliwack was experiencing overcrowding. To relieve this situation, a group of urban members from East Chilliwack MB Church, began holding their own services in the St. Thomas Hall. After meeting together for seven months, the new group decided to construct a new church building on the corner of Broadway and Maple. The building was completed and dedicated in 1947. In this same year, the new congregation sought affiliation with the General, Canadian, and British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. The congregation was referred to as the Chilliwack Mennonite Brethren Church, a name that changed to Broadway Mennonite Brethren Church in 1970.
In 1969, the Broadway congregation decided to build a new structure on the same site. The congregation met at Little Mountain School until the new building was dedicated in early December of 1969. It had a seating capacity of 450 people. A new stage area, an enlarged foyer, a reconstructed balcony, and several other aesthetic changes were completed with volunteer labour in 1990.
For several years, the Broadway church assisted in a church plant effort in the Sardis area. In 1975, nine families left the church to form the core of the work in Sardis. Financial and prayer support for the Sardis group were regular contributions from Broadway.
J.I. Bergen is considered the founding leader of the group, serving the church as lead minister from 1947 to 1958. Since this time the following ministers and pastors have served the congregation: I.H. Thiessen (1959–1963, first salaried minister), Henry Warkentin (1964–1974), John E. Friesen (1975–1978), Robert J. Friesen (1981–2000), Wilf Richert (2002–2003), and Gary Simpson (2004– ).
The language of worship is English. The transition from German occured in the 1960's.
Scope and content
This fonds consists of an historical sketch, bulletins, congregational meeting minutes, and Church Council meeting minutes.
Custodial history
Many of these records were microfilmed in 1978 through the work of the Historical Commission of the Mennonite Brethren Conference. The textual records were deposited regularly over the last few decades.
Notes
- Location: Volume 360.
- Finding aid consists of a file list.
- The records are classified under the Canadian Conference of MB Churches inventory number BB507, and partially located on microfilm reels 131 and 136.
- Described by Donovan Giesbrecht, September 4, 2004.
- No restrictions on access.
Textual file list
Volume 360
1. Historical sketch. -- [ca. 1980]
2. Bulletins. -- 1968–1969
3. Bulletins. -- 1970
4. Bulletins. -- 1971
5. Bulletins. -- 1972
6. Bulletins. -- 1973
7. Bulletins. -- 1974
8. Bulletins. -- 1975
9. Bulletins. --1976
10. Bulletins. -- 1977
11. Bulletins. -- 1978
12. Bulletins. -- 1979
13. Bulletins. -- 1980
14. Bulletins. -- 1981
15. Bulletins. -- 1982
16. Bulletins. -- 1983
17. Bulletins. -- 1984
18. Bulletins. -- 1985
19. Bulletins. -- 1986–1987
20. Bulletins. -- 1988
21. Bulletins. -- 1989–1990
22. Bulletins. -- 1991
23. Bulletins. -- 1992
Microfilm file list
Reel 131
Congregational meeting minutes. Jan 1947–Apr 1947. -- p. 1–35
Congregational meeting minutes. May 1947–Dec 1956. -- p. 35–236
Congregational meeting minutes. Jan 1957–Dec 1959. -- p. 237–305
Congregational meeting minutes. Jan 1960–Jun 1964. -- p. 306–633
Congregational meeting minutes. Sep 1964–Jun 1970. -- p. 634–915
Congregational meeting minutes. Oct 1970–May 1977. -- p. 916–1289
Church Council meeting minutes. Aug 1958–Dec 1959. -- p. 1290–1315
Church Council meeting minutes. May 1961–May 1977. -- p. 1316–1825
Yearend reports. 1958. -- p. 1826–1833
Yearend reports. 1959. -- p. 1834–1866
Reel 136
Congregational meeting minutes. Jun 1976–Jun 1983. -- p. 1267–1726
Church Council meeting minutes. Jun 1982–May 1985. -- p. 1727–1929
