1906-1985.
53.5 cm of textual records and 1 microfilm reel.
Administrative history
The Borden Mennonite Brethren Church is a member of the Canadian Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches, Northern District. It was founded by Mennonites who arrived in Canada between the first two major Mennonite migrations from Russia. They settled in the Borden district in 1902–1903 hoping to benefit from the opportunity to obtain 160 acres as a homestead with the option of purchasing even more acreage. Their leader was David Klassen who had immigrated with them.
People began meeting in 1903 and was organized officially in 1906. At first they used the school of Hoffnungsfeld as a meeting place. By 1907 they had completed the construction of their first church building which was used until 1952, when the present church sanctuary was constructed.
One of the church’s first outreach programs was the support it gave to Herman Fast and his Russian ministry at Blaine Lake. Another effective outreach ministry was the formation of a Sunday school among the Old Colony Mennonites in the Walter Scott school.
The church was led by lay ministers until 1965. Paid pastors have been Henry Gossen (1965–1977); Rueben Derksen (1977–1978); Ewald Unruh (1979–1981); Richard Schellenberg (1982–1988); Les Riediger (1989–1993); Eldon Fehr (1994–1999); Tony Martens (2000– ).
In its early history the Borden MB Church was called the Hoffnungsfeld MB Church. In 1997 church membership was 72. In 1955 the church celebrated its Golden Jubilee anniversary and in 1980 published a history book entitled Precious Memories: Borden Mennonite Brethren Church 1905–1980.
The language of worship is English. The transition from German occured in the 1950's.
Scope and content
This fonds consists of the following nine series:
- Membership and family records
- Minutes of congregational meetings
- Christian Endeavour minutes
- historical records
- Sunday School records
- Church library records
- Guest register
- Women’s group records
- Financial records.
The records show the activities of the church and its members as they establish a church, church programs, and reach out to others in the area.
Custodial history
Many of the records were microfilmed in 1978 through the work of the Historical Commission of the Mennonite Brethren Conference. The textual records were donated by the church in 2002 by the church pastor Tony Martens. About one-third of the records had not been microfilmed in 1978.
Notes
- Volumes 604–606.
- Finding aid updated by Conrad Stoesz November 18, 2002; microfilm file list adapted from a previous finding aid by Leslie Wiebe June 2003.
- Finding aid: The records are classified under the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches inventory BF512.
- Finding aid for microfilm: R13, pp. 1052–1500; R14, pp. 1–614.
Series description
1. Borden Mennonite Brethren Church membership and family records.
1978.
331 pp.; microfilm.
Membership and family record Book I, II, and III available on microfilm only.
- Finding aid: Borden Mennonite Brethren Church R14, pp. 283–614.
2. Borden Mennonite Brethren Church minutes of congregational meetings.
1978.
408 pp.; microfilm.
Minutes of the congregation from 1906 to 1977are available on microfilm only.
- Finding aid: Borden Mennonite Brethren Church R13, pp. 1052–1500; R14, pp. 1501–1560.
3. Borden Mennonite Brethren Church Christian Endeavour minutes.
1978.
363 pp.; microfilm.
Minutes of the Christian endeavour from 1911 to 1969 are available on microfilm only.
- Finding aid: Borden Mennonite Brethren Church R14, pp. 1561–1642 and 1–282.
4. Borden Mennonite Brethren Church historical records.
1980–1985.
1.5 cm of textual records.
This series consists of historical notes and a history book of the church entitled Precious Memories: Borden Mennonite Brethren Church 1905–1980. Folder 3 came to CMBS from Bethany Bible School.
- Finding aid: Box 2, file #7–10.
5. Borden Mennonite Brethren Church Sunday School records.
[1915?]–1940.
4 cm of textual records.
This series consists of two ledgers recording Sunday School attendance and offering.
- Finding aid: box 1, file #19–20.
6. Borden Mennonite Brethren Church Library records.
1922–1970.
4 cm of textual records.
This series consists of two books documenting people borrowing books owned by the church. Also are some lists of books acquired.
- Finding aid: box 1, file #21–22.
7. Borden Mennonite Brethren Guest register.
1955.
1 cm of textual records.
This series consists of a register of guest attending the golden anniversary of the Borden MB Church held on July 10, 1955.
- Finding Aid: Box 1, file #23.
8. Borden Mennonite Brethren Church Women’s Group records.
1917–1974.
5 cm of textual records.
This series consists of 4 books recording the activities of the Borden Women’s Missionary Society, also known as the “Willing Workers Aid Society”, “Nähverein Der Hoffungsfeld Gemeinde”, and “Ladies Aid”.
- Finding aid: Box 2, file #1–4.
9. Borden Mennonite Brethren Church financial records.
1934–1959.
2 cm of textual records.
This series consists of 2 books recording donations to the church for various causes and a book dedicated to the building fund for the Tabernacle at Hepburn, Saskatchewan.
- Finding Aid: box 2, file #5–6.
Textual file list
Volume 604
- Borden MB Church congregational meeting minutes. – 1906–1945.
- Borden MB Church congregational meeting minutes. – 1945–1966.
- Borden MB Church congregational meeting minutes. – 1966–1977.
- Borden [Hoffnungsfelder] church committee [Church council?] meeting minutes. – 1939.
- Individual loose family register pages, membership transfers, and marriage certificates. – 1913–1960.
- Individual loose family register pages, membership transfers. – 1913–1960.
- Borden MB Church record of marriages, births and deaths. – 1906–1956.
- Borden MB Church membership family records (book 9). – 1912–1922.
- Borden MB Church membership family records (book 10). – 1935–1960. – Note: this book is too large for the box and will be placed in the shelf beside the Borden MB Church box.
- Borden MB Church membership family records (book 11). – 1937–1973.
- Borden MB Church Jugendverein. – March 1911–September 1915.
- Borden MB Church Jugendverein (book 5). – 1918–1924. – Note: This book is too long to be placed in a box and will be on the shelf beside the box.
- Borden MB Church Jugendverein. – 1925–1927.
- Borden MB Church Jugendverein. – 1927–1931. – Note: This book is too long to be placed in a box and will be on the shelf beside the box.
- Borden MB Church Jugendverein. – May 1931–May 1935.
- Borden MB Church Christian Endeavour. – 1935–1941.
- Borden MB Church Jugendverein. – October 1948–September 1949.
- Borden MB Church Christian Endeavour. – November 1949–February 1969.
- Borden MB Church Sunday School attendance and contributions records. – [1915?]–1929.
- Borden MB Church Sunday School attendance and contributions records. – 1930–1940. – Note: This book is too large for the box and will be placed on the shelf beside the box.
- Borden MB Church Library record of books borrowed. – 1922–1930.
- Borden MB Church Library record of books borrowed. – 1944–1970.
- Borden MB Church special register (guest book for Golden Jubilee). – 1955.
Volume 605
- Borden MB Church Women’s Missionary Society (Willing Workers Aid Society). – 1917–1931.
- Borden MB Church Women’s Missionary Society (Nähverein). – 1950–1954.
- Borden MB Church Women’s Missionary Society (Nähverein). – 1954–1964.
- Borden MB Church Women’s Missionary Society (Ladies Aid). – 1964–1974.
- Borden MB Church record of donations. – 1934–1959.
- Borden MB Church building fund for Tabernacle at Hepburn. – 1953–1959.
- “History of the Mennonite Brethren Church at Borden, Saskatchewan” / A.K. Rempel. – 1985.
- “Borden Mennonite Brethren Church”, written by Ken Reddig. – 1980.
- Information and historical sketch. – 1980.
- Historical notes. – Undated.
- Precious Memories: Borden Mennonite Brethren Church, 1905–1980.
Microfilm file list
Reel 13
Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1906–Aug.1945. – p.1052–1303.
Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Oct.1945–Feb.1966. – p.1304–1456 (+152). – Note: It is unclear what this number represents, but is included because it was in a previous finding aid.
Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Dec.1966–Dec.1971. – p.1457–1500 (+143).
Reel 14
- Register of Marriages, Births & Deaths. – 1906–1956. – p.283–354 (+11).
- Membership and Family Registers (Book I). – p.355–441.
- Membership and Family Registers (Book II). – p.442–524.
- Membership and Family Registers (Book III). – p.542–614.
- Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Dec.1971–Jun.1977. – p.1501–1560 (+59).
- Christian Endeavor Minutes. – Mar.1911–Sep.1915. – p.1561–1642.
- Christian Endeavor Minutes. – Jul.1918–Dec.1919. – p.1–85.
- Christian Endeavor Minutes. – Nov.1927–May 1931. – p.86–132.
- Christian Endeavor Minutes. – Oct.1949–Feb.1969. – p.133–282 (+150).
