Gretna Bergthaler Mennonite Church (Gretna, Manitoba, Canada)
The congregation began services in 1890s, and formally organized in 1947. The first building was occupied in 1958. Heinrich H. Ewert is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through colonization from Edenburg, Manitoba. This congregation replaced the Bergthaler church at Edenburg as the latter gradually declined as a population center. The existence of Canadian Pacific rail lines through Gretna and activities at Mennonite Collegiate Institute, plus the arrival of an aggressive leader like H. H. Ewert, caused Gretna to develop into a Mennonite worship center.
The language of worship is English; the transition from German occurred in the 1960s.
Ministers have included: Bernie Wiebe, Jake Letkemann, Ed Plett, Henry Penner, Walter Braun, David F. Friesen, Rudy Franz, Dave Regehr, Marco Funk and Harold Schlegel. Janna and Terrell Wiebe were the pastors in 2020.
Bibliography
Canadian Mennonite (2 January 1959): 3.
Mennonite Reporter (15 May 1978): 11.
Gerbrandt, H. J. Adventure in Faith. Altona, MB: Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Manitoba, 1970, 379 pp.
Church records at Mennonite Heritage Centre
Additional Information
Address: 616 Eighth St, Gretna, MB R0G 0V0 (Co-ordinates 49.0071874,-97.5665827)
Phone: (204) 327-5790
Website: gretnachurch.com
Denominational Affiliations:
Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba / Mennonite Church Manitoba (1947-present)
Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada (1947-present)
General Conference Mennonite Church (1968-2002)
Gretna Bergthaler Mennonite Church Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1965 | 156 |
| 1975 | 134 |
| 1985 | 140 |
| 1995 | 145 |
| 2000 | 124 |
| 2020 | 70 |
| Author(s) | Marlene Epp |
|---|---|
| Alf Redekopp | |
| Date Published | March 2020 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Epp, Marlene and Alf Redekopp. "Gretna Bergthaler Mennonite Church (Gretna, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. March 2020. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Gretna_Bergthaler_Mennonite_Church_(Gretna,_Manitoba,_Canada)&oldid=171815.
APA style
Epp, Marlene and Alf Redekopp. (March 2020). Gretna Bergthaler Mennonite Church (Gretna, Manitoba, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Gretna_Bergthaler_Mennonite_Church_(Gretna,_Manitoba,_Canada)&oldid=171815.
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