Steinbach Mennonite Church (Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada)
The Steinbach Mennonite congregation in Steinbach, Manitoba, began services in 1938, and formally organized in 1939. The first building was occupied in 1941, with subsequent building programs in 1951, 1974, and 1989. Isaac Warkentin is considered the founding leader of the group. Mennonite immigrants from Russia had settled in the Steinbach area in the 1920s. They worshiped in the existing congregations there until the 1930s. In 1936 a group was formed as part of the Schönwieser Gemeinde. In 1942 they became an independent congregation.
Initially the church was served by the Schoenwiese Mennonite church group but a split developed between members who wished affiliation with the Schoenwiese and those who wished to be autonomous. The church's application for membership in the Conference of Mennonites in Canada in 1942 was initially rejected because of opposition from the Schoenwiese, but after some deliberation the application was accepted. Shortly after, members who had wanted to remain with the Schoenwiese locked the doors to the new church because they had helped financially towards its construction. Schoenwiese members continued to attend but did not transfer membership from the mother church. Because of its previous association with the Schoenwiese, the name Steinbach Mennonite was not used until 1942.
In 1943 there were 55 members; in 1950, 139; in 1965, 101; in 1975, 337; in 1985, 432; in 1995, 460; in 2000, 434. The language of worship is English and German; the transition from German occurred in the 1960s.
The pastoral leaders of the congregation have included Isaac Warkentin (1936-1964), Wilhelm Peters (1943-1956), Peter J. Reimer (1942-1961), Franz Fröse (1950-1975), David Fast (1953-1975), Frank Isaac (1957-1975), Henry P. Friesen (1957-1962), Peter Fehr (1970-1995), Abe Neufeld (1976-1992), Paul Dyck (1989-2000), Norm Voth (2000-2001), Gary Martens (2001- ).
Bibliography
Mennonite Reporter (3 February 1975): 10; (30 October 1989): 16; (24 August 1992): 16.
Hildebrand, Helen. "The Historical Development of the Steinbach Mennonite Church." Research paper, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 1965, 12 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre.
Froese, Franz J., ed. Steinbach Mennoniten Gemeinde: 25 Jahre 1943-1968. Steinbach: Steinbach Mennonite Church, 1968, 141 pp.
Harder, Leland. Steinbach and Its Churches. Elkhart, IN: Mennonite Biblical Seminary, 1970, 109 pp.
Mennonites in Canada Collection, "70-Steinbach," Mennonite Archives of Ontario.
Peters, Evelyn. "The History of the Steinbach Mennonite Church." Research paper, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 1978, 31 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre.
Records microfilmed at Mennonite Heritage Centre.
Additional Information
Address: Box 2798, Steinbach MB R5G 1P2; located at 345 Loewen Blvd., Steinbach, Manitoba
Telephone: 204-326-2293
Website: Steinbach Mennonite Church
Denominational Affiliations:
Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba, / Mennonite Church Manitoba
Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada (1942-present)
General Conference Mennonite Church (1945-1999)
| Author(s) | Peter J. Reimer |
|---|---|
| Marlene Epp | |
| Date Published | July 1986 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Reimer, Peter J. and Marlene Epp. "Steinbach Mennonite Church (Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. July 1986. Web. 31 Oct 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Steinbach_Mennonite_Church_(Steinbach,_Manitoba,_Canada)&oldid=77912.
APA style
Reimer, Peter J. and Marlene Epp. (July 1986). Steinbach Mennonite Church (Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 31 October 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Steinbach_Mennonite_Church_(Steinbach,_Manitoba,_Canada)&oldid=77912.
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