Springstein Mennonite Church (Springstein, Manitoba, Canada)
The Springstein Mennonite Church began services in 1924, established by a group of recent immigrants from the Soviet Union who took up farming around the towns of Oak Bluff and Springstein in Manitoba. The town of Springstein quickly became a favorite meeting place because it had a school and was located on the main railway line on which Aeltester J. P. Klassen could travel regularly to provide worship services. Thus, the worshiping group at Springstein became a part of the Schoenwieser Mennonite Church group, an association which lasted until 1939. The Mennonite Brethren families worshiped with them until the first building project began.
Springstein Mennonite Church completed its first church building 1938. The congregation was formally organized on 17 October 1938. Minister William H. Enns, their founding leader, was ordained as Aeltester (bishop) in 1941 and served the congregation until 1965. The congregation grew as transportation improved and families from greater distances could attend. When the Starbuck Mennonite Church dissolved, its remaining members joined Springstein. The original building was enlarged to double its original size in 1959. The transition from German to English occurred in the 1960s.
Springstein Mennonite Church is probably best known for its leadership in the founding and development of Camp Assiniboine near Headingly in 1949. They were also a part of the group which founded the Canadian Mennonite Bible College in the 1947, which later became the Canadian Mennonite University. Members from Springstein have been active on committees in Mennonite Church Manitoba and Mennonite Church Canada.
Bibliography
Canadian Mennonite (22 August 1958): 8.
Deininger, Margot. "The Historical Development of the Springstein Mennonite Church." Research paper, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 1985, 15 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre.
Dyck, J. P. Das 25-Jaehrige Jubilaeum der Springsteiner Mennoniten-Gemeinde, 1938-1963. Springstein: Springstein Mennonite Church, 1963, 60 pp.
Additional Information
Address: Box 38, Springstein MB R0G 2N0; located at 22 Victoria Road, Springstein, Manitoba
Phone: 204-735-2758
Denominational Affiliations:
Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba / Mennonite Church Manitoba
Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada (1939-present)
General Conference Mennonite Church (1947-1999)
Springstein Mennonite Church Ministers
| Minister | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Wilhelm Enns | 1930-1940 1941-1965 |
| Rudy Goerzen | 1948-1966 |
| Gerhard Peters | 1966-1971 |
| Henry Neufeld | 1971-1973 |
| Ervin Siemens | 1973-1974 |
| Bruno Epp | 1974-1977 |
| Ernest Wiebe | 1977-1981 |
| Albert Durksen | 1981-1990 |
| Ernie Hildebrand | 1990-1993 |
| Elizabeth and Don Plett | 1994-1999 |
| Kathy Giesbrecht | 1998-2005 |
| Al Rempel | 2001 |
| Erwin Kroeker | 2002-2007 |
| Steve Plenert | 2005-2009 |
| Melissa Miller | 2007-2016 |
| Randy Hildebrand | 2017-present |
Springstein Mennonite Church Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 156 |
| 1965 | 202 |
| 1975 | 159 |
| 1985 | 194 |
| 1995 | 185 |
| 2000 | 129 |
| 2005 | 177 |
| 2010 | 182 |
| 2015 | 169 |
| Author(s) | Alf Redekopp |
|---|---|
| William H. Enns | |
| Date Published | November 2015 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Redekopp, Alf and William H. Enns. "Springstein Mennonite Church (Springstein, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. November 2015. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Springstein_Mennonite_Church_(Springstein,_Manitoba,_Canada)&oldid=162530.
APA style
Redekopp, Alf and William H. Enns. (November 2015). Springstein Mennonite Church (Springstein, Manitoba, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Springstein_Mennonite_Church_(Springstein,_Manitoba,_Canada)&oldid=162530.
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