©Mennonite Heritage Centre 2002
Last updated 06 July 2017

Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church

Retrieval Numbers: Volumes 19, 20, 1110, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2262, 2271, 2406, 2956, 3267, 3817, 4430; 5529 microfilm no. 215, 216, 217, 218.

Title: Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church fonds
Dates: 1913-1997 , predominant 1950-1997 , 2002-2006, 2008-09
Extent: 1.3 m of textual records
Extent: 4 microfilm reels

Historical note

The Bergthaler Mennonites first came to the West Reserve area from the East Reserve in 1877. These settlers formed four villages over the next decade. They first began worshiping together in 1880 in Rudnerweide. The education question caused these settlers to divide into two groups, the Sommerfelder and Bergthaler. Johann Funk was the leader of the Bergthaler and Abram Doerksen the leader of the Sommerfelder. In 1895 the Bergthaler built a new meeting house in Hochstadt. However, the centre for worship shifted in 1907 when the new Mennonite Educational Institute was built in Altona. In 1912 it was decided to build a new meeting house in Altona. 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. The language transition occurred over the next two decades. The congregation has been affiliated with the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba, the Conference of Mennonites in Canada and the General Conference Mennonite Church since 1968. The language of worship was originally German and the transition to English occurred in the 1960s. The leaders of this congregation were: Johann Funk (1892-1911), Johann M. Friesen (1895-1909), H.H.  Hamm (1906-[19-?]), P.P. Epp (1911-1925), David Schulz (1920-1950), Henry Gerbrandt (1950-1971), D. F. Friesen (1971-1979), Walter Franz (1979-1991), Randy Klaassen (1991-1997), Jake F. Pauls (1998), Peter Penner (1999-2003) and Rick Neufeld (2003-     ).

Scope and content note

This fonds consists of congregational bulletins (1965-1997), congregational newsletters (1981-1997), congregational directories (1976, 1978, 1980, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1995), minutes of (Women's) Sewing Circle (1913-1937), finance committee (1953-1979), church council (1965-1979), ministerial committee (1967-1979),personnel committee, deacons committee, and search committee meeting minutes (1976-1978), worship committee, and MDS meeting minutes (1965-1967, 1976-1979), Education Committee meeting minutes (1962-1965), Sunday School teachers' meeting minutes (1966-1971), Education Commission, library committee, and music committee meeting minutes (1976-1978), World Mission commission, Home missions commission, missions committee, and service committee meeting minutes (1965-1969), congregational meeting minutes and reports (1949-1967, 1976-1978, 1984).

Finding aids

Inventory file list available.

Notes

Language

Some German.

Restrictions on access

No restrictions on access.

Other notes

Records prior to 1981 were donated by D.H. Loewen. Since 1981 the congregation has made regular deposits.

Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church fonds file list:

Volume 2010

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins and newsletters. - 1981.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church personnel committee, deacons committee, and search committee meeting minutes. - 1976-1978.
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church worship committee, personnel committee, and MDS meeting minutes. - 1965-1967, 1976-1979.
  4. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church Sunday School committee documents. - 1955, 1960-1963, 1971.
  5. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church Education Committee meeting minutes. - 1962-1965.
  6. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church Sunday School teachers' meeting minutes. - 1966-1971.
  7. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church Education Commission, library committee, and music committee meeting minutes. - 1976-1978.
  8. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church membership lists. - 1968-1970.
  9. D. H. Loewen correspondence. - 1962, 1966-1969.
  10. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church issue papers. - [196-]-[197-].

Volume 2009

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church constitutions. - 1964-1978.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church nominations committee documents. - 1969-1975.
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church World Mission commission, Home missions commission, and MDS meeting minutes. - 1976-1979.
  4. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church Home missions commission meeting minutes. - 1976-1977.
  5. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church annual meeting minutes. - 1976-1978.
  6. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church home ministries commission, missions committee, and service committee meeting minutes. - 1965-1969.

Volume 2262

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church congregational meeting minutes and reports. - 1949-1967.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church annual reports. - 1948-1960.

Volume 2406

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters, annual meeting minutes, and other records. - 1984.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters and pictorial directory. - 1983.
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters, and annual reports. - 1982.
  4. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church annual reports. - 1981.

Volume 2956

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church annual reports. - 1977.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters. - 1987.
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters. - 1986.
  4. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters, and congregational meeting minutes. - 1985.

Volume 3267

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters. - 1990.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters, and congregational directory. - 1988-1989.
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters. - 1988.

Volume 3817

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church directory. - 1995.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters, and directory. - 1994.
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters, congregational meeting minutes, and annual reports. - 1992-1993.
  4. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters, congregational meeting minutes, and annual reports. - 1992.
  5. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters, congregational meeting minutes, directory, and annual reports. - 1991.

Volume 4430

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters, and annual reports. - 1995.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters. - 1996, directory (1996-97)
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters, and annual meeting minutes and reports. - 1997.
  4. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church pictoral directory. -- 1994.

Volume 2007

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church finance committee meeting minutes and reports. - 1956-1963.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church finance committee meeting minutes and reports. - 1962-1965.
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church finance committee meeting minutes and reports. - 1965-1969.
  4. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church finance committee meeting minutes and reports. - 1968-1970.
  5. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church finance committee meeting minutes and reports. - 1975-1979.

Volume 2008

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church council meeting minutes and reports. - 1965-1969.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church council meeting minutes and reports. - 1967-1974.
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church council meeting minutes and reports. - 1976-1979.
  4. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church ministerial committee minutes. - 1976-1979.
  5. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church ministerial committee minutes. - 1970-1973.
  6. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church ministerial committee minutes. - 1967-1969.

Volume 1999

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church building fund statements. - 1953-1955.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church building fund statements. - 1954-1955.
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church building fund statements. - 1953-1955.
  4. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church building fund statements. - 1953-1955.

Volume 2000

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church building fund statements. - 1953-1954.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church building fund statements. - 1953.

Volume 2001

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church building fund statements. - 1954.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church building fund statements. - 1953.

Volume 2002

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church expenditure receipts. - 1953-1957.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church treasury records. - 1948-1950.
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church building report plans. - 1952.
  4. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church building committee minutes. - 1953-1955.

Volume 2003

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church receipt books. - 1950-1962.

Volume 1110

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins and newsletters. - 1981.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletters, directory, and annual reports. - 1980.
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, newsletter, and issue paper. - 1977.
  4. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins, directory, and annual reports. - 1978.
  5. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins. - 1979.

Volume 19

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins. - 1965.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins. - 1966.
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins. - 1967.
  4. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins. - 1968.
  5. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins. - 1969.
  6. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins. - 1970.
  7. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins. - 1971.
  8. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins. - 1972.
  9. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins. - 1973.
  10. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins. - 1974.
  11. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins. - 1975.
  12. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins. - 1976.
  13. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church minutes and reports. - 1967-1975.

Volume 20

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church annual reports. --- 1959, 1962-1977.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church membership lists. - 1974, 1977.
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church constitution. - 1965.

Volume 2140

1.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Jahresbericht 1960

2.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Jahresbericht 1961

3.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Jahresbericht 1962

4.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Jahresbericht 1963

5.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Jahresbericht 1964

6.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Annual Brotherhood Reports 1965

Volume 2141

1.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Annual Brotherhood Reports 1966

2.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Annual Congregation Meeting Reports 1967

3.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Annual Congregation Meeting Reports 1968

4.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Annual Congregation Meeting Reports 1969

5.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Annual Congregation Meeting Reports 1970

6.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Annual Congregation Meeting Reports 1972

7.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Annual Congregational Meeting Minutes 1972

8.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Annual Membership Meeting Reports 1974

9.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church, Constitution 1965/1969

Volume 2271

  1. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church Sewing Circle minutes (Nähverein). - 1913-1937.
  2. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins - (2002)
  3. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins - (2003)
  4. Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins - (2004); annual report (2003); annual report (2004)

Volume 2151

1.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2005); annual report book (2005)

2.  ABC Sr. Youth Cookbook (1999)

3.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2006); annual report book (2006)

4.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2007)

5.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bullletins (2008); annual report book (2007)

Volume 5529

1.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2009); annual report book (2008)

2.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2010); annual areport book (2009)

3.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2011); annual report book (2010)

Volume 5799

1.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2014); bulletins, annual report book (2014)

2.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2015)

3.  Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2016)

4.  Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Altona photo directory (1976)

Microfilm


(MHC Project No. 64; MHC Microfilm no. 216, 217, 218)

Microfilm 215 (second part)

  1. Family register
  2. Marriage register. -- 1972-1980.
  3. Membership records.

Microfilm 216

  1. Membership records continued beginning with Kliewer.
  2. Membership lists. -- 1961-1979.
  3. Sunday school register and ledgers. -- 1948-1976.
  4. "Adventure in Faith" by H. J. Gerbrandt.
  5. Congregational yearbook. -- 1976.
  6. Church events scrapbook. -- 1976-1980.
  7. Congregational meeting minutes. -- 1957-1979.
  8. Church council meeting minutes. -- 1965-1980.
  9. Lehrdienst-ministerial meeting minutes. -- 1957-1963.

Microfilm 217

  1. Lehrdienst-ministerial meeting minutes (continued). -- 1964-1978.
  2. Deacons committee meeting minutes. -- 1974-1979.
  3. Personnel committee meeting minutes. -- 1974-1978.
  4. Search committee meeting minutes. -- 1977-1979.
  5. Worship committee meeting minutes. -- 1973-1979.
  6. Education committee meeting minutes. -- 1958-1979.
  7. Wayfarer Boys league. -- 1975-1979.
  8. Sunday school records. -- 1955-1979.
  9. Youth records. -- 1949-1958.
  10. Youth opportunities unlimited records. -- 1961-1962.
  11. Cradle roll records. -- 1975-1979.
  12. Music committee meeting minutes. -- 1961-1978.
  13. Finance committee meeting minutes. -- 1959-1979.
  14. Home missions records. -- 1969-1979.
  15. World missions records. -- 1969-1979.
  16. Service committee records. -- 1961-1968.
  17. Annual reports. -- 1952-1965.

Microfilm 218 (part one)

  1. Annual reports. -- 1966-1979.
  2. Constitutions.
  3. Legal documents.
  4. Correspondence. -- 1951-1975.
  5. Missionary correspondence from Anne Falk and Anne Penner.
  6. Henry J. Gerbrandt sermons. -- 1966-1967.
  7. Radio messages. -- 1963-1967.
  8. Crusades. -- 1957-1969.
  9. Statistics. -- 1961-1978.
  10. Other. -- 1950-1978.