Rosenfeld Bergthaler Mennonite Church (Rosenfeld, Manitoba, Canada)
The Rosenfeld, Manitoba area was settled in 1876 by people mostly from Fürstenland Mennonite settlement in Russia. When the Reinländer Gemeinde was formed in 1880, these families opted to be served by Chortitzer church leaders from the Manitoba Mennonite East Reserve. After the division in 1892 most of these families joined the Sommerfelder group. The Bergthaler presence was first established here in 1903 and by 1904 there were regular worship services conducted here in rented facilities. However over the next twenty years or so these worship services were held irregularly. John D. Loeppky is considered the founding leader of the group.
Only in 1928 were regular services held for the Bergthaler group. In 1942 they built their own meeting house. The relationship with the central Bergthaler leadership was strained during these years. In 1949 this building was renovated.
In 1965 there were 80 members; in 1975, 96; in 1985, 79; in 1995, 88; in 2000, 86; in 2005, 88. The congregation has been affiliated with Mennonite Church Manitoba, Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada, and the General Conference Mennonite Church (1968-1999). The language of worship is English; the transition from German occurred in the 1960s.
The congregation's leaders have included Johann Löppky (1915-1947), Johan Heinrichs (1944-1949, 1951-1957), David Klassen (1937-1939), Diedrich Neudorf (1958-1968), David Hildebrand (1957-1979), Peter Penner (1968-1970), John Froese (1972-1974), Brian Epp (1976-1977), Herman Kuhl (1980-2002), Walter E. Hiebert (2002- ). Walter Hiebert served in a half-time salaried position -- the first salaried pastor since the 1970s.
The congregation's address is Box 217, Rosenfeld, MB, R0G 1X0. (204) 324-6071. The church is located at 187 Acheson St.
Bibliography
Mennonite Reporter (15 May 1978): 11.
Gerbrandt, H. J. Adventure in Faith. Altona: Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Manitoba, 1970, 379 pp.
Heinrichs, Audrey D. "Rosenfeld Bergthaler Mennonite Church." Research paper, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 1986. Mennonite Heritage Centre.
| Author(s) | Marlene Epp |
|---|---|
| Date Published | September 1986 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Epp, Marlene. "Rosenfeld Bergthaler Mennonite Church (Rosenfeld, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. September 1986. Web. 24 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Rosenfeld_Bergthaler_Mennonite_Church_(Rosenfeld,_Manitoba,_Canada)&oldid=166978.
APA style
Epp, Marlene. (September 1986). Rosenfeld Bergthaler Mennonite Church (Rosenfeld, Manitoba, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Rosenfeld_Bergthaler_Mennonite_Church_(Rosenfeld,_Manitoba,_Canada)&oldid=166978.
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