Difference between revisions of "Avon Mennonite Church (Stratford, Ontario, Canada)"

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The Avon Mennonite congregation began services and formally organized in 1952. The first building was occupied in 1952, with a subsequent building program in 1994. The congregation originated through outreach efforts by Floyd Baechler and Alvin Lebold. In October 1994 the congregation moved from 478 Brunswick Street to become part of the Mennonite-owned senior citizen complex on Greenwood Drive.
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The Avon Mennonite Church in Stratford, [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]], Canada, began with a [[Summer Bible School]] sponsored by the [[Ontario Amish Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church)|Ontario Amish Mennonite Conference]] in July 1951. [[Bender, Ross Thomas (1929-2011)|Ross Bender]] was the superintendent of this first school. In the spring of 1952, the conference purchased a house at the corner of Romeo and Brunswick Streets. Another Bible School was held that summer, and Sunday school classes began to be held in the house. In July 1953 Sunday evening and Friday evening services began, under the direction of [[Gingerich, Ephraim (1917-2010)|Ephraim Gingerich]].
  
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Minister Herb Sawatzky served in 2009 as a  congregational leader. In 1965 there were 18 members; in 1975, 31; in 1985, 44; in 1995, 69; in 2000, 92. The congregation has been affiliated with the [[Western Ontario Mennonite Conference|Western Ontario Mennonite Conference]] (1952-1988), the Mennonite Church (1952-1999), [[Mennonite Church Eastern Canada|Mennonite Church Eastern Canada]] (1988-) and the [[Conference of Mennonites in Canada|Conference of Mennonites in Canada]]/[[Mennonite Church Canada|Mennonite Church Canada]] (1995-). The language of worship is English.
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In September 1955, Jake Spenler of Milverton was invited to be the first pastor for the group that had about 16 adults and 30 children attending. The Spenler family lived in the house except for the front two rooms which were used for church meetings.
  
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By 1958 youth and women's organizations had formed. Plans also began for a new church building which was finally dedicated in June 1961, though the house remained as a parsonage.
  
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In 1975, during the pastorate of Rod and Doris Weber, a [[Voluntary Service]] (VS) program began in Stratford that used the house for the VS unit. This program ended in 1980. The house was then used for the Avonholme program for persons with emotional and psychological issues.
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Rod and Doris Weber were commissioned for ministry (equivalent to ordination) on 4 March 1979; [[Weber, Doris Barbara (1930-2021)|Doris Weber]] was the first woman recognized as a pastoral leader in the then [[Western Ontario Mennonite Conference]].
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In 1994 the church was sold to the Stratford Church of Christ, and the congregation moved to share part of the facility at the new Greenwood Court retirement community in Stratford. COVID-19 brought an end to this arrangement in 2020, as Greenwood Court could not allow outsiders to visit the complex weekly. It invoked a buy-sell clause in the original agreement, forcing the congregation to make alternative arrangements. In August 2021 a permanent home had not yet been identified, though a local Lutheran congregation provided interim space.
 
= Bibliography =
 
= Bibliography =
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<em class="gameo_bibliography">Mennonite Reporter</em> (22 August 1994): 15; (19 September 1994): 16; (12 December 1994): 5.
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Baechler, Reta. "From Country Roads to City Streets: A Brief Story of Avon Mennonite Church in the City of Stratford, Ontario." ''Ontario Mennonite History'' 19, no. 1 (May 2001): 1-4.
  
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Church records at Mennonite Archives of Ontario.
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Braun, Will. "Bricks. Mortar. Spirit; Three churches navigate the loss of meeting space." ''Canadian Mennonite'' 25, no. 17 (16 August 2021): 24-25.  
  
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''Mennonite Reporter'' (22 August 1994): 15; (19 September 1994): 16; (12 December 1994): 5.
  
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Church records at [https://uwaterloo.ca/mennonite-archives-ontario/ Mennonite Archives of Ontario].
 
= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
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<strong>Address</strong>: 90 Greenwood Dr., Stratford, ON, N5A 7W5
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'''Address''': 90 Greenwood Dr., Stratford, ON, N5A 7W5
  
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<strong>Phone</strong>: 519-273-2261.
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'''Phone''': 519-273-2261.
  
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<strong>Website</strong>: [http://www.avonmennonite.ca/ Avon Mennonite Church]
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'''Website''': [http://www.avonmennonite.ca/ Avon Mennonite Church]
  
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<strong>Denominational Affiliations</strong>:
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'''Denominational Affiliations''':
  
 
[http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/ Mennonite Church Canada]
 
[http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/ Mennonite Church Canada]
  
 
[http://www.mcec.ca/ Mennonite Church Eastern Canada]
 
[http://www.mcec.ca/ Mennonite Church Eastern Canada]
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== Avon Mennonite Church Pastoral Leaders ==
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Name!! Years<br />of Service
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|-
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| Jake Spenler||1955-1962
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|-
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| Ken Bender||1962-1966
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|-
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| Arthur Leis||1966-1968
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|-
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| Winston Martin||1968-1973
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|-
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| Rod & [[Weber, Doris Barbara (1930-2021)|Doris Weber]]||1974-1984
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|-
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| Gary Horst||1984-2004
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|-
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| Anne Campion<br />(Associate)||1999-2004
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|-
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| Jim & Ingrid Loepp Thiessen<br />(Interim)||2004-2005
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|-
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| Melissa Kirby<br />(Associate)||?-2008
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|-
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| Herb Sawatzky||2005-2013
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|-
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| Jane Kuepfer<br />(Associate)||2009-2013
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|-
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| Troy Watson||2014-present
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|}
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== Avon Mennonite Church Membership ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
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|-
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! Year !! Members
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|-
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| 1965 || 18
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|-
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| 1975 || 31
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|-
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| 1985 || 44
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|-
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| 1995 || 69
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|-
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| 2000 || 92
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|-
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| 2015 || 113
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|-
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| 2020 || 135
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|}
  
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= Map =
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[[Map:Avon Mennonite Church (Stratford, Ontario, Canada)]]
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=August 2021|a1_last=Steiner|a1_first=Samuel J|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
  
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{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=July 2000|a1_last=Epp|a1_first=Marlene|a2_last=Steiner|a2_first=Sam}}
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[[Category:Churches]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church (MC) Congregations]]
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[[‎Category:Western Ontario Mennonite Conference Congregations]]
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[[‎Category:Mennonite Church Eastern Canada Congregations]]
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[[Category:Mennonite Church Canada Congregations]]
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[[‎Category:Ontario Congregations]]
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[[Category:Canadian Congregations]]

Latest revision as of 13:13, 15 February 2022

The Avon Mennonite Church in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, began with a Summer Bible School sponsored by the Ontario Amish Mennonite Conference in July 1951. Ross Bender was the superintendent of this first school. In the spring of 1952, the conference purchased a house at the corner of Romeo and Brunswick Streets. Another Bible School was held that summer, and Sunday school classes began to be held in the house. In July 1953 Sunday evening and Friday evening services began, under the direction of Ephraim Gingerich.

In September 1955, Jake Spenler of Milverton was invited to be the first pastor for the group that had about 16 adults and 30 children attending. The Spenler family lived in the house except for the front two rooms which were used for church meetings.

By 1958 youth and women's organizations had formed. Plans also began for a new church building which was finally dedicated in June 1961, though the house remained as a parsonage.

In 1975, during the pastorate of Rod and Doris Weber, a Voluntary Service (VS) program began in Stratford that used the house for the VS unit. This program ended in 1980. The house was then used for the Avonholme program for persons with emotional and psychological issues.

Rod and Doris Weber were commissioned for ministry (equivalent to ordination) on 4 March 1979; Doris Weber was the first woman recognized as a pastoral leader in the then Western Ontario Mennonite Conference.

In 1994 the church was sold to the Stratford Church of Christ, and the congregation moved to share part of the facility at the new Greenwood Court retirement community in Stratford. COVID-19 brought an end to this arrangement in 2020, as Greenwood Court could not allow outsiders to visit the complex weekly. It invoked a buy-sell clause in the original agreement, forcing the congregation to make alternative arrangements. In August 2021 a permanent home had not yet been identified, though a local Lutheran congregation provided interim space.

Bibliography

Baechler, Reta. "From Country Roads to City Streets: A Brief Story of Avon Mennonite Church in the City of Stratford, Ontario." Ontario Mennonite History 19, no. 1 (May 2001): 1-4.

Braun, Will. "Bricks. Mortar. Spirit; Three churches navigate the loss of meeting space." Canadian Mennonite 25, no. 17 (16 August 2021): 24-25.

Mennonite Reporter (22 August 1994): 15; (19 September 1994): 16; (12 December 1994): 5.

Church records at Mennonite Archives of Ontario.

Additional Information

Address: 90 Greenwood Dr., Stratford, ON, N5A 7W5

Phone: 519-273-2261.

Website: Avon Mennonite Church

Denominational Affiliations:

Mennonite Church Canada

Mennonite Church Eastern Canada

Avon Mennonite Church Pastoral Leaders

Name Years
of Service
Jake Spenler 1955-1962
Ken Bender 1962-1966
Arthur Leis 1966-1968
Winston Martin 1968-1973
Rod & Doris Weber 1974-1984
Gary Horst 1984-2004
Anne Campion
(Associate)		 1999-2004
Jim & Ingrid Loepp Thiessen
(Interim)		 2004-2005
Melissa Kirby
(Associate)		 ?-2008
Herb Sawatzky 2005-2013
Jane Kuepfer
(Associate)		 2009-2013
Troy Watson 2014-present

Avon Mennonite Church Membership

Year Members
1965 18
1975 31
1985 44
1995 69
2000 92
2015 113
2020 135

Map

Map:Avon Mennonite Church (Stratford, Ontario, Canada)


Author(s) Samuel J Steiner
Date Published August 2021

Cite This Article

MLA style

Steiner, Samuel J. "Avon Mennonite Church (Stratford, Ontario, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. August 2021. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Avon_Mennonite_Church_(Stratford,_Ontario,_Canada)&oldid=173105.

APA style

Steiner, Samuel J. (August 2021). Avon Mennonite Church (Stratford, Ontario, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Avon_Mennonite_Church_(Stratford,_Ontario,_Canada)&oldid=173105.



©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

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