Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church (Waldheim, Saskatchewan, Canada)
The Brotherfield (Bruderfeld) Mennonite Brethren congregation near Waldheim, Saskatchewan was one of the first Mennonite Brethren congregations in Canada. During the years 1897-1899 a number of families from Minnesota and South Dakota pioneered in the Waldheim area. They met in homes until they formally organized in 1901 with 25 charter members. The first building was occupied in 1902, with a subsequent building program in 1911. Isaac Neufeld is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through immigration from Minnesota and South Dakota. Its German name was Bruderfeld, taken from the name of the church (Brothersfield MB Church) near Parker in Turner County, South Dakota where many of the first members originated. The name was changed to Brotherfield in 1956.
David Dyck (1910-1923), Henry A. Willems (1922-1950), and Henry M. Willems (1948-1956) were significant leaders in the congregation. After 1962 Bethany Bible School teachers pastored the Brotherfield Church on a part-time basis, including Cornie Braun, David Bergen, Ben Doerksen, Isaac Bergen, George Dirks, and Elmer Andres. Frank Kroeker assisted during the 1940s and 1950s. The language of worship was English; the transition from German occurred in the 1950s.
The Brotherfield Church amalgamated with the Waldheim Mennonite Brethren Church on 2 October 1988. The building was sold and moved to Martensville in 1995 where it was renovated into a home. In 1965 the the Brotherfield church had 79 members; in 1985, 66.
Bibliography
Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church, 1898-1986. Waldheim, SK, 1988, 159 pp.
Kroeker, Frank F. "The Spiritual Pilgrimage of the Brotherfield M.B. Church." 1978, 23 pp. Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies.
Mennonite Brethren Herald (27 May 1988): 70; (6 January 1989): 18.
Toews, John A. A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church: Pilgrims and Pioneers. Winnipeg, MB: Kindred Press, 1975: 41, 158.
Waldheim Remembers the Past. 1921: 41.
Archival Records:
Church records at Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies.
Additional Information
Location: the church had been located on the northwest corner of NW 1/4 of Sec. 11 R 6 T 42 W 3rd.
Denominational Affiliations:
Saskatchewan Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches<br/>
Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches
General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.
Brotherfield MB Church Ministers
| Minister | Years |
|---|---|
| Peter Nickel | 1903-1909 |
| Peter Dyck | 1903-1908 |
| David Klassen | 1904-1905 |
| Heinrich Zimmerman | 1906-1910 |
| David Dyck | 1910-1922 |
| Henry A. Willems | 1922-1950 |
| Henry M. Willems | 1949-1956 |
| George Geddert | 1956-1961 |
| Frank Kroeker | 1962 |
| Cornie Braun | 1962-1964 |
| David Bergen | 1964-1970 |
| Ben Doerksen | 1970-1975 |
| David Bergen (co-pastor) | 1975-1983 |
| Isaac Bergen (co-pastor) | 1975-1978 |
| George Dirks (co-pastor) | 1978-1983 |
| Elmer Andres | 1983-1986 |
| Reuben Andres | 1986-1988 |
| Author(s) | J. H., Marlene Epp Epp |
|---|---|
| Richard D. Thiessen | |
| Date Published | December 2009 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Epp, J. H., Marlene Epp and Richard D. Thiessen. "Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church (Waldheim, Saskatchewan, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. December 2009. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Brotherfield_Mennonite_Brethren_Church_(Waldheim,_Saskatchewan,_Canada)&oldid=55134.
APA style
Epp, J. H., Marlene Epp and Richard D. Thiessen. (December 2009). Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church (Waldheim, Saskatchewan, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Brotherfield_Mennonite_Brethren_Church_(Waldheim,_Saskatchewan,_Canada)&oldid=55134.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 445. All rights reserved.
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