1932–1998.
53.8 cm of textual records and 3 microfilm reels.

Administrative history

Mennonite immigrants arrived from Russia in 1924 in the Vineland area. Until 1934 the Mennonite Brethren and General Conference Mennonites worshiped together in rented facilities. The Mennonite Brethren families of this group organized their own congregation in 1932 with 27 charter members and joined the Ontario Mennonite Brethren Conference that year. In the autumn of 1934 the Mennonite Brethren congregation rented facilities in Beamsville. In 1937 almost half the members moved to Virgil/Niagara-on-the-Lake area. The remaining group purchased their own meeting house in Vineland. This building was expanded a number of times until 1952. In 1960 a new meeting house was completed in a new location. This building was expanded in 1969. In 1961 the membership stood at 294, in 1980 at 301, and 215 in 2000.

The leaders of the congregation were: Johann Dick (1932–1933), Gerhard Mathies (1934), Dietrich Klassen (1935–1936), Gerhard Reimer (1937), Heinrich Wiebe (1938–1939, 1949–1956), Peter Dirksen (1940–1948), Aron Wall (1957–1959), Henry Voth (1960–1963), John Schmidt (1964–1968), Jay Neufeld (1969–1973), Isaac Block (1973–1981), Gerry Ediger (1982–1985), Murray Unruh (1986–1990), Harold Loewen (1991, 1993–1995), Helmut Koop (1992), Henry Wiebe (1996–2001), Doug Schulz (2002–2005), Tom Warner (2005– ).

Scope and content

This fonds consists of 13 series. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church history, bulletins, Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church constitutions, Vineland Mennonite Brethen Church Youth with a Mission documents, Minutes and reports, Assorted correspondence, Church membership class notes, Bible study notes, Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church Crime problems documents, Niagara District Evangelical Ministers’ Fellowship meeting minutes, Pastors’ Counseling Course notes, Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church Refugee Documents, and Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church directory.

Custodial history

Records were transferred to the Centre for MB Studies archives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. One box of unsorted material was accessed in 1992. Some records were microfilmed in 1978 through the work of the Historical Commission of the Mennonite Brethren Conference.

Notes

• Volumes 540–542.
• Finding aid consists of a series description and a file list is available.
• Finding aid: The records are classified under the Canadian Conference of MB Churches inventory BD-503.
• Finding aid for microfilm: R31, pp.1302–2452, R32, pp.1–816, R33, pp.1349–1524.
• Described by Bert Friesen 9 October 2001, microfilm file list adapted from a previous finding aid by Leslie Wiebe June 2003.
• Some restrictions apply.

Series description

Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church history.
[ca.1979]-1985.
4 cm of textual records.

This series consists of a brief congregational history (1985) congregational historical sketch ([ca.1979]), and anniversary books (1962, 1982)

Bulletins.
1969–1993.
21 cm of textual records.

This series consists of congregational bulletins (1969–1993).

Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church constitutions.
[197–?].
0.3 cm of textual records.

This series consists of drafts of congregational constitutions ([197–?]), congregational financial statements (1969–1971), Eden Christian College enrollment statistics (1970).

Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church Youth with a Mission documents.
[197–?].
0.2 cm of textual records.

This series consists of Youth with a Mission documents ([197–?]).

Minutes and reports.
1932–1981.
20.9 cm of textual records and 2097 pp.; microfilm.

This series consists of congregational meeting minutes and reports, council reports, Christian education meeting minutes, Board of Elders minutes, Leadership committee minutes, Lincoln ministerial minutes, planning meeting minutes, missions committee minutes.

Assorted correspondence.
1973–1981.
2.7 cm of textual records.

This series consists of assorted correspondence (1973–1980) and letters to the congregation from the pastor (1973–1981)

Church membership class notes.
[197–?].
0.2 cm of textual records.

This series consists of church membership class notes ([197–?]).

Bible Study notes.
[197–?].
1 cm of textual records.

This series consists of assorted Bible study notes ([197–?]).

Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church Crime problems documents.
1976–1977.
1.2 cm of textual records and one audio tape.

This series consists of Crime problem documents which includes one audio tape (1976–1977).

Niagara District Evangelical Ministers’ Fellowship meeting minutes.
1974–1979.
1 cm of textual records.

This series consists of Niagara District Evangelical Ministers’ Fellowship meeting minutes (1974–1979).

Pastors’ Counseling Course notes.
[197–?].
0.5 cm of textual records.

This series consists of pastors’ counseling course notes ([197–?]).

Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church Refugee Documents.
1979–1980.
0.6 cm of textual records.

This series consists of documents concerning congregationally supported refugees (1979–1980).

Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church directory.
1974.
0.2 cm of textual records.

This series consists of a congregational address and telephone directory.

Textual file list

Volume 540

1. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church historical sketch. – [ca.1979].
2. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church history. – 1985.
3. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church 30th anniversary booklet. – 1962.
4. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church 50th anniversary books. – 1982.
5. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church directory. – 1974.
6. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1969–1970.
7. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1971.
8. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1972.
9. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1973.
10. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1974.
11. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1975.
12. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1976.
13. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1977.
14. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1978.

Volume 541

1. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1979–1980.
2. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1981.
3. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1982.
4. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1983.
5. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1984.
6. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1985.
7. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1986.
8. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1987.
9. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1988.
10. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1989.
11. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1990.
12. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1991.
13. Vineland Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. – 1992–1993.

Volume 542

• This box contains files of Isaac Block, pastor of the Vineland MB Church (1973–1981). [See Acc. 1992–18. The files have not been sorted. [AHR 1993]

Microfilm file list

Reel 31

• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Jan.1932–Dec.1935. – p.1302–1381 (1585). – Note: It is unclear what this number represents, but is included because it was in a previous finding aid.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Jan.1936–Dec.1938. – p.1382–1477 (1677). – Note: It is unclear what this number represents, but is included because it was in a previous finding aid.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Jan.1939–Oct.1941. – p.1478–1532 (1731). – Note: It is unclear what this number represents, but is included because it was in a previous finding aid.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Nov.1941–Jan.1944. – p.1533–1624 (1823). – Note: It is unclear what this number represents, but is included because it was in a previous finding aid.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Mar.1944–Jan.1950. – p.1625–1777 (1975). – Note: It is unclear what this number represents, but is included because it was in a previous finding aid.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Mar.1950–Dec.1957. – p.1778–1987 (2184). – Note: It is unclear what this number represents, but is included because it was in a previous finding aid.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Jan.1958–Dec.1962. – p.1988–2146 (2343). – Note: It is unclear what this number represents, but is included because it was in a previous finding aid.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1963. – p.2147–2178 (2375). – Note: It is unclear what this number represents, but is included because it was in a previous finding aid.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1964. – p.2179–2213 (2410). – Note: It is unclear what this number represents, but is included because it was in a previous finding aid.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1965. – p.2214–2255 (2452). – Note: It is unclear what this number represents, but is included because it was in a previous finding aid.

Reel 32

• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1966. – p.1–42.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1967. – p.43–95
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1968. – p.96–144.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1969. – p.145–182.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1970. – p.183–212.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1971. – p.213–241.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1972. – p.242–331.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1973. – p.332–362.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1974. – p.363–390.
• Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1975. – p.391–416.
• Church Council Meeting Minutes. – 1957–1964. – p.417–669.
• Pulpit Committee. – 1963–1973. – p.670–816.

Reel 33

• Church Council Meeting Minutes. – 1973–Sept.1975. – p.1349–1417.
• Church Council Meeting Minutes. – Oct.1975–May 1, 1978. – p.1418–1524.