View source for Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church (Altona, Manitoba, Canada)

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[[File:Altona Bergthaler, 1963.jpg|400px|thumb|right|''Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, 1963.<br>Photo: Mennonite Heritage Archives (49:01).'']]
[[File:Altona Bergthaler, 2020.jpg|400px|thumb|right|''Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, 2020.<br>Photo: Google street view''.]]
The Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church traces its beginning to 1885 when the [[Chortitzer Mennonite Conference|Chortitzer]] ministers from the [[Manitoba (Canada)|Manitoba]] Mennonite [[East Reserve (Manitoba, Canada)|East Reserve]] held services in the school in Alt Altona. In 1892 the group became [[Bergthal Mennonites|Bergthaler]] under the leadership of [[Funk, Johann (1836-1917)|Johann Funk]] who resided in nearby Alt Bergthal. When a school was built in [[Altona (Manitoba, Canada)|Altona]] in 1895, it became the centre for Bergthaler services. However, in keeping with the policy of the time, a church building was not erected in town but at Hochstadt, several miles east of Altona, and dedicated in 1898. After the move of the [[Mennonite Educational Institute (Altona, Manitoba, Canada)|Mennonite Educational Institute]] to Altona in 1908 services were regularly conducted in that building. In 1912 the church got its own first building to serve members from Alt Altona, Alt Bergthal and Hochstadt. In 1919 this building was expanded and again in 1944. With the Bible School expanding in Altona it was decided to build a new building to accommodate the large gatherings in connection with the Bible School. A larger building was completed in 1954.

[[Schulz, David (1897-1976)|David Schulz]] served this congregation as leader 1926-1950 (and the larger Bergthaler Gemeinde until 1964). Other prominent Altona ministers, besides the ones listed below, included J.N. Hoeppner, P.P. Kehler and D.F. Friesen.

The language of worship was originally German and the transition to English occurred in the 1960s. 

= Bibliography =
Ens, Anna. <em>In Search of Unity: Story of the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba.</em> Winnipeg, Manitoba: CMBC Publications, 1996.

Epp-Thiessen, Esther.  <em>Altona: The Story of a Prairie Town.</em> Altona, Man. : D.W. Friesen, 1982.

Gerbrandt, H.J. <em>Adventure in Faith.</em> Altona: Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Manitoba, 1970.

''Mennonite Reporter'' (May 15, 1978), 11; (Mar. 18, 1996), 15.

Unpublished congregational history, 1979, 12 pp. MHC.
=== Archival Records: ===
Microfilmed records at [http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/programs/archives/index.htm  Mennonite Heritage Centre.]
= Additional Information =
'''Address:''' 117 2nd Street NW, Altona, Manitoba R0G 0B1 (Co-ordinates )

'''Phone:''' 204-324-6717

'''Website:''' [https://www.abchurch.ca/ abchurchcommunity.ca]

'''Denominational Afflication:''' 
[[Bergthal Mennonites|Bergthal Mennonite Church of Manitoba]] (1893-1972)

Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba / [[Mennonite Church Manitoba]] (1947-

[Conference of Mennonites in Canada]] / [[Mennonite Church Canada]]  (1903-

[[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]] (1968-2002)


=== Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church Leading Ministers ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Minister !! Years of service
|-
|Johann Funk || 1892-1911
|-
|David Schulz || 1920-1950
|-
|Henry J. Gerbrandt || 1950-1971
|-
|D.F. Friesen || 1971-1979
|-
|Walter Franz || 1979-1991
|-
|Randy Klaassen || 1991-1997
|-
|Jacob F. Pauls || 1998
|-
|Peter Penner || 1999-2003
|-
|Rick Neufeld || 2003-2015
|-
|Walter Hiebert (interim) || 2016-2017
|-
|Mark Tiessen-Dyck || 2018-
|}

=== Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church Membership ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Membership
|-
| 1965|| 529
|-
| 1975|| 590
|-
| 1985|| 637
|-
| 1995|| 561
|-
| 2000|| 532
|-
| 2008|| 411
|}
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[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church Manitoba Congregations]]
[[Category:Mennonite Church Canada Congregations]]
[[Category:Manitoba Congregations]]
[[Category:Canadian Congregations]]