Difference between revisions of "Chilliwack Mennonite Church (Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada)"
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Mennonites had come into the Chilliwack area of British Columbia from the prairies in the 1940s. A congregation, initially known as the <em>Westheimer Mennoniten Gemeinde</em>, had been formed in 1945 but a division of opinion on many matters due to the influence of revivalism caused a split in 1947. The group that remained became the [[Eden Mennonite Church (Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada)|East Chilliwack Mennonite Church]] and the new congregation was named the First Mennonite Church. The new congregation held its organizational meeting on 18 May 1947 in the Strathcona School, led by Elder [[Martens, Wilhelm Gerhard (1892-1976)|Wilhelm Martens]] from the [[River of Life Church (Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada)|First Mennonite Church Greendale]]. There were 40 charter members. [[Loewen, Gerhard D. (1873-1959)|Gerhard D. Loewen]] is considered the founding leader of the group. On 30 August 1947 the congregation was able to purchase the church building formerly owned by the Zion Evangelical Church. It was located at 428 Wellington Avenue, four blocks from the city center. | Mennonites had come into the Chilliwack area of British Columbia from the prairies in the 1940s. A congregation, initially known as the <em>Westheimer Mennoniten Gemeinde</em>, had been formed in 1945 but a division of opinion on many matters due to the influence of revivalism caused a split in 1947. The group that remained became the [[Eden Mennonite Church (Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada)|East Chilliwack Mennonite Church]] and the new congregation was named the First Mennonite Church. The new congregation held its organizational meeting on 18 May 1947 in the Strathcona School, led by Elder [[Martens, Wilhelm Gerhard (1892-1976)|Wilhelm Martens]] from the [[River of Life Church (Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada)|First Mennonite Church Greendale]]. There were 40 charter members. [[Loewen, Gerhard D. (1873-1959)|Gerhard D. Loewen]] is considered the founding leader of the group. On 30 August 1947 the congregation was able to purchase the church building formerly owned by the Zion Evangelical Church. It was located at 428 Wellington Avenue, four blocks from the city center. | ||
| − | In 1959 a group desiring to worship in the English language began its own services and formed the [[Chilliwack Mennonite Mission (Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada)|Chilliwack Mennonite Mission Church]]. | + | In 1959 a group desiring to worship in the English language began its own services and formed the [[Chilliwack Mennonite Mission (Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada)|Chilliwack Mennonite Mission Church]]. First Mennonite Church constructed a new sanctuary in 1965. In 1969 the Chilliwack Mennonite Mission Church merged back with the First Mennonite congregation and the name of the church was changed to Chilliwack Mennonite Church. |
| − | The congregation dissolved in 1978 due to declining membership, and differences in theology. Long standing internal | + | The congregation dissolved in 1978 due to declining membership, and differences in theology. Long standing internal struggles and deep tensions between the "[[Charismatic Movement|charismatic]]" and "traditional" led to the decay of the congregation. Eventually the congregation accepted a resolution to dissolve and turn over the church property and assets to the Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia with the view to establishing a new congregation under the leadership of the conference. The formal closing and thanksgiving service was held on 10 December 1978. The building was subsequently sold to the Victoria Avenue Baptist Church in Chilliwack, which held a dedication service under the new name of Evergreen Baptist Church in October 1980. |
= Bibliography = | = Bibliography = | ||
| − | + | ''Canadian Mennonite'' (24 November 1961): 11; (3 August 1965): 1. | |
| − | + | Chilliwack Baptist Church. "History." Web. 1 March 2014. http://www.chilliwackbaptist.com/about-us/history/. | |
| + | |||
| + | ''Churches in Profile''. Clearbrook, BC: Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia, 1978: 32-34. | ||
<em>Information bezueglich der Vereinigten Mennoniten Gemeinden in British Columbien: Gelegentlich der Konferenz der Mennoniten in Kanada, 1959</em>. Abbotsford, BC: The Conference, 1959: 18. | <em>Information bezueglich der Vereinigten Mennoniten Gemeinden in British Columbien: Gelegentlich der Konferenz der Mennoniten in Kanada, 1959</em>. Abbotsford, BC: The Conference, 1959: 18. | ||
| Line 17: | Line 19: | ||
Martens, Maureen. "A History of the Chilliwack Mennonite Church, 1947-1977." Unpublished Research Paper, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 1977, 33 pp. [http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/programs/archives/index.htm Mennonite Heritage Centre]. | Martens, Maureen. "A History of the Chilliwack Mennonite Church, 1947-1977." Unpublished Research Paper, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 1977, 33 pp. [http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/programs/archives/index.htm Mennonite Heritage Centre]. | ||
= Additional Information = | = Additional Information = | ||
| − | + | '''Address''': 428 Wellington Street (now 45592 Wellington Street), Chilliwack, BC | |
| − | + | '''Denominational Affiliations:''' | |
[[Mennonite Church British Columbia|Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia]] (1949-1978) | [[Mennonite Church British Columbia|Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia]] (1949-1978) | ||
| Line 27: | Line 29: | ||
[[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]] (1959-1978) | [[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]] (1959-1978) | ||
| − | <h3>Chilliwack Mennonite Church Leading Ministers</h3> <table class="vertical listing"> | + | <h3>Chilliwack Mennonite Church Leading Ministers</h3> |
| − | + | <table class="vertical listing"> | |
| − | </th> <th>Years | + | <tr> <th>Minister</th> <th>Years</th> </tr> |
| − | + | <tr> <td>[[Loewen, Gerhard D. (1873-1959)|Gerhard D. Loewen]]</td> <td align="right">1947-1948</td> </tr> | |
| − | </th> </tr> | + | <tr> <td>Peter Dick</td> <td align="right">1948-1950</td> </tr> |
| − | + | <tr> <td>[[Peters, Gerhard I. (1906-1999)|Gerhard I. Peters]]</td> <td align="right">1950-1959</td> </tr> | |
| − | </td> <td align="right">1948-1950 | + | <tr> <td>[[Koop, Abraham B. (1914-1993)|Abraham B. Koop]]</td> <td align="right">1961-1967</td> </tr> |
| − | + | <tr> <td>Ernest Sawatzky (interim)</td> <td align="right">1968</td> </tr> | |
| − | </td> </tr> <tr> <td>[[Peters, Gerhard I. (1906-1999)|Gerhard I. Peters]]</td> <td align="right">1950-1959</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[[Koop, Abraham B. (1914-1993)|Abraham B. Koop]]</td> <td align="right">1961-1967</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Ernest Sawatzky (interim) | + | <tr> <td>[[Unger, Peter A. (1918-2011)|Peter A. Unger]]</td> <td align="right">1969-1972</td> </tr> |
| − | + | <tr> <td>George Harms (interim)</td> <td align="right">1972</td> </tr> | |
| − | </td> <td align="right">1968</td> </tr> <tr> <td>[[Unger, Peter A. (1918-2011)|Peter A. Unger]]</td> <td align="right">1969-1972</td> </tr> <tr> <td>George Harms (interim) | + | <tr> <td>Peter Bartel</td> <td align="right">1973-1975</td> </tr> |
| − | + | <tr> <td>Hans Dyck (interim)</td> <td align="right">1975</td> </tr> | |
| − | </td> <td align="right">1972</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Peter Bartel</td> <td align="right">1973-1975</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Hans Dyck (interim) | + | <tr> <td>Anton "Tony" Buhr (interim)</td> <td align="right">1976</td> </tr> |
| − | + | <tr> <td>George Epp (interim)</td> <td align="right">1977</td> </tr> | |
| − | </td> <td align="right">1975 | + | </table> |
| − | + | <h3>Chilliwack Mennonite Church Membership</h3> | |
| − | </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Anton "Tony" Buhr (interim) | + | <table class="vertical listing"> |
| − | + | <tr> <th>Year</th> <th>Members</th> </tr> | |
| − | </td> <td align="right">1976</td> </tr> <tr> <td>George Epp (interim) | + | <tr> <td>1947</td> <td align="right">47</td> </tr> |
| − | + | <tr> <td>1950</td> <td align="right">43</td> </tr> | |
| − | </td> <td align="right">1977</td> </tr> | + | <tr> <td>1955</td> <td align="right">88</td> </tr> |
| − | + | <tr> <td>1959</td> <td align="right">112</td> </tr> | |
| − | </th> <th>Members | + | <tr> <td>1965</td> <td align="right">65</td> </tr> |
| − | + | <tr> <td>1975</td> <td align="right">78</td> </tr> | |
| − | </th> </tr> <tr> <td>1947 | + | <tr> <td>1978</td> <td align="right">37</td> </tr> |
| − | + | </table> | |
| − | </td> <td align="right">47</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1950 | + | {{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=March 2014|a1_last=Epp|a1_first=Marlene|a2_last=Thiessen|a2_first=Richard D.}} |
| − | |||
| − | </td> <td align="right">43 | ||
| − | |||
| − | </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1955</td> <td align="right">88 | ||
| − | |||
| − | </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1959 | ||
| − | |||
| − | </td> <td align="right">112 | ||
| − | |||
| − | </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1965 | ||
| − | |||
| − | </td> <td align="right">65 | ||
| − | |||
| − | </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1975</td> <td align="right">78 | ||
| − | |||
| − | </td> </tr> <tr> <td>1978 | ||
| − | |||
| − | </td> <td align="right">37 | ||
| − | |||
| − | </td> </tr> | ||
| − | {{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date= | ||
[[Category:Churches]] | [[Category:Churches]] | ||
[[Category:Mennonite Church British Columbia Congregations]] | [[Category:Mennonite Church British Columbia Congregations]] | ||
[[Category:Mennonite Church Canada Congregations]] | [[Category:Mennonite Church Canada Congregations]] | ||
| + | [[Category:General Conference Mennonite Church Congregations]] | ||
[[Category:British Columbia Congregations]] | [[Category:British Columbia Congregations]] | ||
[[Category:Canadian Congregations]] | [[Category:Canadian Congregations]] | ||
[[Category:Extinct Congregations]] | [[Category:Extinct Congregations]] | ||
Revision as of 22:07, 1 January 2017
Mennonites had come into the Chilliwack area of British Columbia from the prairies in the 1940s. A congregation, initially known as the Westheimer Mennoniten Gemeinde, had been formed in 1945 but a division of opinion on many matters due to the influence of revivalism caused a split in 1947. The group that remained became the East Chilliwack Mennonite Church and the new congregation was named the First Mennonite Church. The new congregation held its organizational meeting on 18 May 1947 in the Strathcona School, led by Elder Wilhelm Martens from the First Mennonite Church Greendale. There were 40 charter members. Gerhard D. Loewen is considered the founding leader of the group. On 30 August 1947 the congregation was able to purchase the church building formerly owned by the Zion Evangelical Church. It was located at 428 Wellington Avenue, four blocks from the city center.
In 1959 a group desiring to worship in the English language began its own services and formed the Chilliwack Mennonite Mission Church. First Mennonite Church constructed a new sanctuary in 1965. In 1969 the Chilliwack Mennonite Mission Church merged back with the First Mennonite congregation and the name of the church was changed to Chilliwack Mennonite Church.
The congregation dissolved in 1978 due to declining membership, and differences in theology. Long standing internal struggles and deep tensions between the "charismatic" and "traditional" led to the decay of the congregation. Eventually the congregation accepted a resolution to dissolve and turn over the church property and assets to the Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia with the view to establishing a new congregation under the leadership of the conference. The formal closing and thanksgiving service was held on 10 December 1978. The building was subsequently sold to the Victoria Avenue Baptist Church in Chilliwack, which held a dedication service under the new name of Evergreen Baptist Church in October 1980.
Bibliography
Canadian Mennonite (24 November 1961): 11; (3 August 1965): 1.
Chilliwack Baptist Church. "History." Web. 1 March 2014. http://www.chilliwackbaptist.com/about-us/history/.
Churches in Profile. Clearbrook, BC: Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia, 1978: 32-34.
Information bezueglich der Vereinigten Mennoniten Gemeinden in British Columbien: Gelegentlich der Konferenz der Mennoniten in Kanada, 1959. Abbotsford, BC: The Conference, 1959: 18.
Jahrbuch der Konferenz der Vereinigten Mennoniten Gemeinden in British Columbien, 1951. Abbotsford, BC: The Conference, 1951: 96-98.
Martens, Maureen. "A History of the Chilliwack Mennonite Church, 1947-1977." Unpublished Research Paper, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 1977, 33 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre.
Additional Information
Address: 428 Wellington Street (now 45592 Wellington Street), Chilliwack, BC
Denominational Affiliations:
Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia (1949-1978)
Conference of Mennonites in Canada (1949-1978)
General Conference Mennonite Church (1959-1978)
Chilliwack Mennonite Church Leading Ministers
| Minister | Years |
|---|---|
| Gerhard D. Loewen | 1947-1948 |
| Peter Dick | 1948-1950 |
| Gerhard I. Peters | 1950-1959 |
| Abraham B. Koop | 1961-1967 |
| Ernest Sawatzky (interim) | 1968 |
| Peter A. Unger | 1969-1972 |
| George Harms (interim) | 1972 |
| Peter Bartel | 1973-1975 |
| Hans Dyck (interim) | 1975 |
| Anton "Tony" Buhr (interim) | 1976 |
| George Epp (interim) | 1977 |
Chilliwack Mennonite Church Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1947 | 47 |
| 1950 | 43 |
| 1955 | 88 |
| 1959 | 112 |
| 1965 | 65 |
| 1975 | 78 |
| 1978 | 37 |
| Author(s) | Marlene Epp |
|---|---|
| Richard D. Thiessen | |
| Date Published | March 2014 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Epp, Marlene and Richard D. Thiessen. "Chilliwack Mennonite Church (Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. March 2014. Web. 18 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Chilliwack_Mennonite_Church_(Chilliwack,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=142353.
APA style
Epp, Marlene and Richard D. Thiessen. (March 2014). Chilliwack Mennonite Church (Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 18 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Chilliwack_Mennonite_Church_(Chilliwack,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=142353.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.