1895–1988.
45 cm of textual records, one tape and one microfilm.
Administrative history
The Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church, located in northern Saskatchewan six miles west of Waldheim, was a member of the Canadian Conference Mennonite Brethren Churches, Rosthern District. Early settlers originally had come from Russia in 1873 and had settled in Minnesota; others came from Germany in 1875 settling in South Dakota. Both streams were strongly influenced during their stay in the United States by evangelists Cornelius Wedel and Heinrich Voth. People from both areas emigrated to the Brotherfield area beginning in 1898. During those early years the settlers held services in their homes, often with Elder David Dyck. In 1899 a decision was made to build a church but actual building began late in 1901 and was completed in 1902. A dedication service took place in July 1902 and in the same year seven people were baptized. In 1911 a new extension to the church was built. The Northern District Conference composed of delegates from Manitoba, the Herbert District, and the Rosthern District met there that summer in the Brotherfield church.
Pastors in the Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church have been: Peter Nickel, Peter Dyck, David Klassen and Heinrich Zimmerman (all short term between 1901 and 1910); David Dyck (1910–1923); Henry A. Willems (1922–1950); Henry M. Willems (1948–1956); George Geddert (1956–1961); and Frank Kroeker (1962). After 1962 Bethany Bible School teachers pastored the Brotherfield Church on a part-time basis. They were: Cornie Braun, David Bergen, Ben Doerksen, Isaac Bergen, George Dirks, Elmer Andres, and Reuben Andres. The Brotherfield Church amalgamated with the Waldheim Mennonite Brethren Church on October 2, 1988. The building was sold and moved to Martensville in 1995 where it was renovated into a home.
The language of worship is English. The transition from German occured in the 1950's.
Scope and content
This fonds consists of the following series: Historical records; membership records; minutes of congregational meetings; financial records; Christian Endeavour records; minutes of committee meetings; and a small amount of correspondence.
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 came to the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies in 1996 from the Bethany Bible School in Saskatchewan, where they had been housed.
Notes
- Volumes 634–635.
- Finding aid: The records are classified under the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches inventory BF529.
- Finding aid for microfilm: R11 pp. 1522–2041 and R12, pp. 1–1022.
- Microfilm file list adapted from a previous finding aid by Leslie Wiebe June 2003.
Series description
Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church historical records.
1962–1988.
4 cm of textual records and one cassette tape.
This series consists of materials used to reflect on the church’s history for the 50th (1951) and 85th anniversary celebrations (1986) and the church’s closure in 1988. It includes Elder David Dyck’s biography, a booklet on Brotherfield Church history called “A Legacy of Faith” by Frank F. Kroeker, and the Brotherfield Yearbook published in 1988 by editor Linda Willems Fast, daughter to Henry A. Willems (pastor).
- Finding aid: Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church list 1–5.
Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church membership records.
1895–1987.
8 cm of textual records.
This series consists predominantly of bound books that hold records of members including birth, baptism, marriage, and death dates. Also included in this fonds are Gemeinde Zeugnisse (Membership certificates of transfer) of early members of the Brotherfield Church.
- Finding aid: Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church list 6–11.
Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church minutes of congregational meetings.
1903–1988.
12 cm of textual records and 521 pp. microfilm.
This series consists of five bound books containing minutes of congregational meetings from 1903 to 1988 and unbound minutes of membership meetings from 1984 to 1988.
- Finding aid: Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church list 12–17.
Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church financial records.
1909–1975.
5 cm of textual records and 198 pp. microfilm.
This series consists of three books containing records of contributions of individual members (in the early years) and records of what the money was donated for, such as missions and contributions to Conference work.
- Finding aid: Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church list 18–20.
Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church Christian Endeavour records.
1914–1971.
10 cm of textual records.
This series is made up of six bound books containing records of Christian Endeavour programs held at the Brotherfield MB Church.
- Finding aid: Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church list 21–26.
Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church minutes of committee meetings.
1941–1988.
6 cm of textual records.
This series consists of minutes of the Christian Education Committee from 1962–1988, minutes of the Vorberat (Church council) from 1941–1976, and minutes of the Board of Elders from 1977–1988.
- Finding aid: Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church list 27–31.
Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church correspondence.
1983.
1 mm of textual records.
This series consists of two pastoral resignations.
- Finding aid: Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church list 32.
Textual file list
Volumes 634–635
Series I: Historical records
1. Historical materials. – 1962–1988.
Brotherfield’s statistical report for the Canadian Conference. – 1962–1963.
2. Brotherfield MB Church Yearbook. – 1988.
3. Tape of merger service (Brotherfield and Waldheim). – October 2, 1988.
4. Materials for Brotherfield’s 85th anniversary celebration: Correspondence, bulletin, list of members baptised and transferred from 1967–1985, report on missions, list of pastors from 1962–1986. – 1986.
5. Minutes of final meetings at Brotherfield. – 1988.
Series II: Membership records
6. A description of how membership registers were to be kept.
7. Gemeinde Zeugnisse. – 1895–1944.
8. Membership and family record. – 1901–1910.
9. Membership and family record. – 1904–1970.
10. Membership and family record. – 1927–1968.
11. Membership transfer. – 1987.
Series III: Minutes of congregational meetings
12. Minutes of congregational meetings. – 1903–1937.
13. Minutes of congregational meetings. – 1939–1955.
14. Minutes of congregational meetings. – 1955–1966.
15. Minutes of congregational meetings. – 1966–1976.
16. Minutes of congregational meetings. – 1977–1988.
17. Minutes of membership meetings. – 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988.
Series IV: Financial records
18. Financial records. – 1909–1948.
19. Financial records. – 1948–1966.
20. Records of offerings and deposits. – 1968–1975.
Series V: Christian Endeavour records
21. Minutes of Christian Endeavour Program Committee. – 1914–1920.
22. Minutes of Christian Endeavour Program Committee. – 1921–1926.
23. Minutes of Christian Endeavour Program Committee. – 1927–1936.
24. Minutes of Christian Endeavour Program Committee. – 1937–1947.
25. Minutes of Christian Endeavour Program Committee. – 1948–1961.
26. Minutes of Christian Endeavour Program Committee. – 1961–1971.
Series VI: Minutes of committee meetings.
27. Minutes of the Christian Education Committee. – 1962–1968.
28. Minutes of the Christian Education Committee. – 1968–1984.
29. Minutes of the Christian Education Committee. – 1985–1988.
30. Minutes of Vorberatung. – 1941–1976.
31. Minutes of Board of Elders meetings. – 1977–1988.
Series VII: Correspondence
32. Pastoral resignations. – 1983.
Microfilm file list:
Reel 11
- Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book I). – Jan.1903–Aug.1937. – p.1522–1652.
- Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book II). – Oct.1939–Sep.1955. – p.1653–1847.
- Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book III). – Jan.1955–Apr.1966. – p.1848–1945.
- Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book IV). – Aug.1966–Nov.1976. – p.1946–2041.
Reel 12
- Membership Records (Book XVI). – [19--] – 1920. – p.735–791.
- Membership Records (Book XVII). – [19--] – 1970. – p.793–892 (+10). – Note: It is unclear what this number represents, but is included because it was in a previous finding aid.
- Membership Records (Book XVIII). – [19--] – [196-]. – p.893–959 (+52).
- Membership Records (Book XIX). – ca.1939–1973. – p.960–1022.
- Financial Records (Book XI). – 1909–1948. – p.492–601.
- Financial Records (Book XII). – 1948–1966. – p.602–640 (+38).
- Financial Records (Book XIII). – 1957–1967. – p.641–674 (+33).
- Financial Records (Book XIV). – 1966–1973. – p.675–690 (+15).
- Sunday School Records (Book XV). – 1946–1962. – p.691–734 (+43).
- Christian Endeavor Minutes (Book V). – 1914–1920. – p.1–59.
- Christian Endeavor Minutes (Book VI). – 1921–1926. – p.60–149.
- Christian Endeavor Minutes (Book VII). – 1927–1936. – p.150–244 (+95).
- Christian Endeavor Minutes (Book VIII). – 1937–1947. – p.245–339 (+114).
- Christian Endeavor Minutes (Book IX). – 1948–1961. – p.340–438 (+98).
- Christian Endeavor Minutes (Book X). – 1961–1971. – p.439–491 (+52).
