1907–1998.
70 cm of textual records, 1 microfilm reel and 6 photographs.
Administrative history
In 1907, German immigrants met in Winnipeg in private homes for prayer and fellowship. When they heard of the Winkler MB Church, they called for some help and the ministers there began visiting Winnipeg four times annually. Johann Warkentin, one of the ministers, bought a small chapel for the congregation. The church asked the Northern-District Conference to find permanent leadership for the church. Wilhelm J. Bestvater came to assume leadership in 1913. The congregation needed more room so they moved into a hall temporarily. When this became too small, the congregation started to build a church but only got as far as the basement with an improvised roof. The new leader, C. N. Hiebert, spent many hours a day at the train station during the 1920’s supplying food and clothing to the many Russians who came to Winnipeg daily. Because of the many new immigrants, the basement was not big enough. In 1930, a new building was completed at 621 College Avenue. This congregation was known as the North End MB Church. The church became a city mission as well as the MB Church. The task became too much for one person so in 1936, Franz Isaac became the leading minister and Rev. Hiebert concentrated on the city mission. Need for a bigger church prompted C. A. DeFehr to donate a plot of land to the congregation in the Elm Wood area in 1951. On February 7, 1954 the new church at 155 Kelvin (later Henderson Highway) was dedicated and the church became known as the Elmwood MB Church. I. W. Redekop became the first full time pastor.
The leaders of the church included: Wilhelm J. Bestvater (1913–1921), Erdman Nikkle (1921–1925), C. N. Hiebert (1925–1936), Franz Isaac (1936–1939), Franz Thiessen (1939–1943), B. B. Fast (1943–1949), David K. Duerksen (1949–1953), I. W. Redekop (1954–1967), W. J. Schmidt (1968–1971), Eugene Gerbrandt (1972–1975), Peter R. Toews (1977–1979), Henry Brucks (1981), Jay Neufeld (1983–1987), Abe Klassen (1989–1997), Keith Poysti (1998).
The language of worship is English and German.
Scope and content
This fonds consists of a historical sketch, pictures, constitutions, directories, weekly bulletins, annual reports, minutes from the business meetings, church council, board of stewards, board of trustees, Christian Education committee, and miscellaneous information.
Custodial history
Some of the records were microfilmed in 1978 through the work of the Historical Commission of the Mennonite Brethren Conference.
Note
- Volumes 477–480.
- Accession numbers 2001–017.
- Finding aid: The records are classified under the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches inventory BC522 (series description and file list available).
- Finding aid for microfilm: R91, pp 1386–2394; R92, pp 1–2449; R93, pp 345–1817.
- No restrictions.
- Microfilm file list adapted from a previous finding aid by Leslie Wiebe June 2003.
Series Description
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church history. -- 1985, 1988. -- 0.25 cm of textual records and 200 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of information for a historical sketch, and historical narratives.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 1.
microfilm R91, pp 1386-1586.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church pictures. 1953, 1959. -- 6 photographs.
This series consists of six photographs, four which show men building the Elmwood MB Church, one of A. H. Unruh, and one of Abraham and Anna Loewen.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 2.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church constitutions. -- 1976, 1979, undated. -- 1.5 cm of textual records and 55 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the church constitutions.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 3.
microfilm R91, pp 1587-1642.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church directories. -- 1958, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1978. -- 1 cm of textual records.
This series consists of the churches directories and two pictorial record/history books.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 4-5.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1930-1932, 1949-1998. -- 50 cm of textual records.
This series consists of the weekly bulletins.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 6-58.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church newsletter. -- 1985, 1986, 1988, undated. -- 0.25 cm of textual records.
This series consists of the church newsletter.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 59.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church membership and family records. -- 1909-1979, 1989. -- 2 cm of textual records and 412 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the church registers, and membership and marriage registers.
Finding aid: microfilm R91, pp 1643-2055. Textual records file # 79, 85.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church annual reports. -- 1932-1934, 1969, 1972. -- 1 cm textual material.
This series consists of the annual reports.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 60.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church business meeting minutes. -- 1909-1985. -- 1.25 cm of textual records and 2075 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the North End Church minutes, the business meeting minutes, and the congregational meeting minutes.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 61-62,78.
microfilm R91, pp 2056-2394; R92, pp 1-1737.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church council meeting minutes. -- 1927-1979. -- 0.5 cm of textual records and 1925 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the church council meeting minutes.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 63.
microfilm R92, pp 1738-2449, R93, pp 1-1214.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church board of trustees and stewards. -- 1976, 1986. -- 0.25 cm of textual records and 328 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the minutes from the board of trustees and the finance committee and the minutes from the board of stewards.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 64-65.
microfilm R93, pp 1392-1724.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church pastoral leadership committee. -- 1946-1957, 1984-1987. -- 0.25 cm of textual records.
This series consists of the minutes and correspondence from the pastoral leadership committee and some church records from the years 1946-1957.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 66-67.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church Christian education committee. -- 1950-1978. -- 0.15 cm of textual records and 51 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the minutes from the Christian education committee and the Sunday School teachers meetings.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 68,84.
microfilm R93, 1215-1266.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church board of deacons. -- 1944-1979. -- 0.25 cm of textual records and 124 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the minutes from the board of deacons meetings (and of ministers also, occasionally) and some miscellaneous church business.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 69-70.
microfilm R93, pp 1267-1391.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church ladies fellowship. -- 1938-1974. -- 9 cm of textual records.
This series consists of the minutes from the ladies fellowship meetings and a scribbler of German poetry.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 71, 80-83.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church Willing Helpers. -- 1957-1990. -- 9 cm of textual records.
This series consists of the minutes from the Willing Helpers meetings.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 72-74.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church Jugendverein. -- 1938-1954. -- 92 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the minutes and program notes from the Jugendverein committee.
Finding aid: microfilm R93, 1725-1817.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church miscellaneous. -- 196?-198?. -- 1.5 cm of textual records.
This series consists of miscellaneous programs, correspondence and documents.
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 75-76.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church annual Bible conference. -- 1958-1978. -- 0.15 cm of textual records.
This series consists of the programs for the annual Bible conferences (1958-1960, 1962-1966, 1971-1972, 1975, 1978).
Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 77.
Textual file list
Volume 477
1. Historical Sketches. – 1985, 1988.
2. Pictures. – 1953, 1959, undated.
3. Constitutions. – undated, 1976, 1979.
4. Directories. – 1958, 1960, 1965, undated.
5. Pictorial Record/History. – 1970, 1978, 1987, [199-].
6. Bulletins. – 1930.
7. Bulletins. – 1931.
8. Bulletins. – 1932.
9. Bulletins. – 1949.
10. Bulletins. – 1950.
11. Bulletins. – 1951.
12. Bulletins. – 1952.
13. Bulletins. – 1953.
14. Bulletins. – 1954.
15. Bulletins. – 1955.
16. Bulletins. – 1956.
17. Bulletins. – 1957.
18. Bulletins. – 1958.
19. Bulletins. – 1959.
20. Bulletins. – 1960.
21. Bulletins. – 1961.
22. Bulletins. – 1962.
23. Bulletins. – 1963.
24. Bulletins. – 1964.
25. Bulletins. – 1965.
26. Bulletins. – 1966.
27. Bulletins. – 1967.
28. Bulletins. – 1968.
29. Bulletins. – 1969.
30. Bulletins. – 1970.
31. Bulletins. – 1971.
32. Bulletins. – 1972.
33. Bulletins. – 1973.
34. Bulletins. – 1974.
35. Bulletins. – 1975.
Volume 478
36. Bulletins. – 1976.
37. Bulletins. – 1977.
38. Bulletins. – 1978.
39. Bulletins. – 1979.
40. Bulletins. – 1980.
41. Bulletins. – 1981.
42. Bulletins. – 1982.
43. Bulletins. – 1983.
44. Bulletins. – 1984.
45. Bulletins. – 1985.
46. Bulletins. – 1986.
47. Bulletins. – 1987.
48. Bulletins. – 1988.
49. Bulletins. – 1989.
50. Bulletins. – 1990.
51. Bulletins. – 1991.
52. Bulletins. – 1992.
53. Bulletins. – 1993.
54. Bulletins. – 1994.
55. Bulletins. – 1995.
56. Bulletins. – 1996.
57. Bulletins. – 1997.
58. Bulletins. – 1998.
59. Newsletter. – undated, 1985, 1986, 1988.
60. Annual Reports. – 1932–1934, 1969, 1972.
61. North End Church Minutes. – 1937.
62. Business Meeting Minutes. – 1978–1985.
63. Church Council Meeting Minutes. – 1976–1978.
64. Board of Trustees Minutes. – 1976.
65. Board of Stewards. – 1986.
66. Church Records (partial). – 1946–1957.
67. Pastoral Leadership Committee. – 1984, 1986–1987.
68. Christian Education Committee. – 1978.
69. Miscellaneous Church Business. – 1969–1979.
70. Deacon Meeting Minutes. – 1967, 1974, 1984–1988.
Volume 479
71. Ladies Fellowship. – 1967–1974.
72. Willing Helpers Minutes. – 1957–1969.
73. Willing Helpers Minutes. – 1969–1981.
74. Willing Helpers Minutes. – 1982–1990.
75. Miscellaneous. – 1960, 1966.
76. Miscellaneous.
77. Annual Bible Conference Programs. – 1958–1978.
78. North End (Elmwood) church minutes. – 1909–1926.
79. North End (Elmwood) Family Register. – 1909–1960.
80. Ladies Fellowship minutes. – 1938–1943, 1944–1953.
80b. Church membership list. 1909-1926.
Membership certificate trnaslated by John Thiessen. -- [19--].
Constitution. -- [199-].
Volume 480
81. Ladies Fellowship minutes. – 1958–1960, 1960–1961.
82. Ladies Fellowship minutes. – 1961–1962, 1965–1966.
83. German poetry. – [19-].
84. Minutes from the Sunday School Convention in the North End MB Church. – 1937.
85. Membership list. – 1989.
Microfilm file list
Reel 91
- Historical Account and Membership Calendar (Book I). – ca.1907–1070. – p.1386–1586.
- Constitutions (Book II). – [19--]. – p.1587–1642.
- Church Register (Book III). – ca.1913–1938. – p.1643–1696.
- Church Membership and Marriage Register (Book IV). – ca.1925–ca.1956. – p.1697–1865.
- Church Membership and Marriage Registers (Book V). – ca.1944–ca.1964. – p.1866–2000.
- Church Register (Book VI). – ca.1964–1979. – p.2001–2055.
- Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book VII). – May 1909–1939. – p.2056–2394.
Reel 92
- Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book VIII). – Feb.1940–Dec.1956. – p.1–525.
- Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book IX). – Feb.1957–Oct.1966. – p.526–1132.
- Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book X). – Jan.1967–Apr.1979. – p.133–1737.
- Church Council Meeting Minutes (Book XI). – Jan.1927–Dec.1950. – p.1738–2449.
Reel 93
- Church Council Meeting Minutes (Book XII). – Jan.1951–Dec.1956. – p.1–344.
- Church Council Meeting Minutes (Book XIII). – Jan.1957–Dec.1969. – p.345–780.
- Church Council Meeting Minutes (Book XIV). – Jan.1970–May 1979. – p.781–1214.
- Board of Trustees/Finance Committee Reports and Minutes (Book XVII). – ca.1940–Oct.1978. – p.1392–1724.
- Board of Deacons Meeting Minutes (Book XVI). – 1944–Apr.1979. – p.1267–1391.
Series description
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church history. – 1985, 1988.
0.25 cm of textual records and 200 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of information for a historical sketch, and historical narratives.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 1.
- microfilm R91, pp 1386–1586.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church pictures. – 1953, 1959, undated.
6 photographs.
This series consists of six photographs, four which show men building the Elmwood MB Church, one of A. H. Unruh, and one of Abraham and Anna Loewen.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 2.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church constitutions. – 1976, 1979, undated.
1.5 cm of textual records and 55 pages of microfilm.
- This series consists of the church constitutions.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 3.
- microfilm R91, pp 1587–1642.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church directories. – 1958, 1960, 1965, undated, 1970, 1978.
1 cm of textual records.
This series consists of the churches directories and two pictorial record/history books.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 4–5.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1930–1932, 1949–1998.
50 cm of textual records.
This series consists of the weekly bulletins.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 6–58.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church newsletter. – 1985, 1986, 1988, undated.
0.25 cm of textual records.
This series consists of the church newsletter.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 59.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church membership and family records. – 1909–1979.
1 cm of textual records and 412 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the church registers, and membership and marriage registers.
- Finding aid: microfilm R91, pp 1643–2055. Textual records file # 79.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church annual reports. – 1932–1934, 1969, 1972.
1 cm textual material.
This series consists of the annual reports.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 60.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church business meeting minutes. – 1909–1985.
1.25 cm of textual records and 2075 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the North End Church minutes, the business meeting minutes, and the congregational meeting minutes.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 61–62,78.
- microfilm R91, pp 2056–2394; R92, pp 1–1737.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church council meeting minutes. – 1927–1979.
0.5 cm of textual records and 1925 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the church council meeting minutes.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 63.
- microfilm R92, pp 1738–2449, R93, pp 1–1214.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church board of trustees and stewards. – 1976, 1986.
0.25 cm of textual records and 328 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the minutes from the board of trustees and the finance committee and the minutes from the board of stewards.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 64–65.
- microfilm R93, pp 1392–1724.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church pastoral leadership committee. – 1946–1957, 1984–1987.
0.25 cm of textual records.
This series consists of the minutes and correspondence from the pastoral leadership committee and some church records from the years 1946–1957.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 66–67.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church Christian education committee. – 1950–1978.
0.15 cm of textual records and 51 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the minutes from the Christian education committee and the Sunday School teachers meetings.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 68.
- microfilm R93, 1215–1266.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church board of deacons. – 1944–1979.
0.25 cm of textual records and 124 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the minutes from the board of deacons meetings (and of ministers also, occasionally) and some miscellaneous church business.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 69–70.
- microfilm R93, pp 1267–1391.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church ladies fellowship. – 1967–1974.
3 cm of textual records.
This series consists of the minutes from the ladies fellowship meetings.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 71.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church Willing Helpers. – 1957–1990.
9 cm of textual records.
This series consists of the minutes from the Willing Helpers meetings.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 72–74.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church Jugendverein. – 1938–1954.
92 pages of microfilm.
This series consists of the minutes and program notes from the Jugendverein committee.
- Finding aid: microfilm R93, 1725–1817.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church miscellaneous. – 196?–198?.
1.5 cm of textual records.
This series consists of miscellaneous programs, correspondence and documents.
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 75–76.
Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church annual Bible conference. – 1958–1978.
0.15 cm of textual records.
This series consists of the programs for the annual Bible conferences (1958–1960, 1962–1966, 1971–1972, 1975, 1978).
- Finding aid: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 77.
