©Mennonite Heritage Centre 2002
Last updated April 17, 2002
Title: Kane Bergthaler Mennonite Church fonds
Dates: 1943-1974
Extent: 40 cm of textual records
Extent: and other material
Although the earliest Mennonite families settled in the area around Kane, Manitoba during the 1890s, the Kane Bergthaler Mennonite, as an affliate of the larger Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Manitoba (Gemeinde) did not develop until 1952 when the church building from Edenburg (built in 1902) was moved to Kane to serve as a worship meeting place. In that building, the congregation held worship services from 1952 until April 29, 1973, when the church closed. The last service not only contained the baptism of six young adults, it also recognized many of the accomplishments that took place in the church. For example, from 1939 and into the 1950s, daily vacation Bible School and Sunday School was strongly promoted in the community by the Kane Christian Youth Society, some of which had ties with the larger Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Manitoba. When the congregation dissolved the remaining members transferred to various other local congregations such as the Lowe Farm Bergthaler, the Free Church and the Rosefarm EMMC Church. (Sources: Gerbrandt, Henry J. Adventure in Faith. Altona, Manitoba: Bergthaler Mennonite church of Manitoba, 1970. pp. 203-208; Anna Ens. In Search of Unity. Winnipeg, Manitoba : CMBC Publications, 1996. p.172.)
This fonds includes the records of the Kane Christian Youth Society which promoted Sunday school and Daily Vacation Bible School. There are also records of the Christian Endeavour meetings. The fonds includes minutes of the Kane Bergthaler Mennonite Church board (Lehrdienst), membership records and financial information about monies collected and distributed. There are also the records of the women's group, known as the Kane Mission Sisters, which includes minutes, correspondence, membership records and financial information about the womens' group activities.
Finding aid: Inventory file list.
Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Manitoba Fonds
Ed Groening donated this collection on March 15, 1978.
Arranged and described by Aileen Dyck in August 1999
no restrictions on access
Acc. No. 94-16
1) Minutes. -- 1943-1973. -- 7 cm of textual records.
This series consists of minutes from the committee meetings of different groups within the church. These groups include the Christian Youth Society, the board, and the mission board.
Location: Volume 4778, 1125
Language: English and German
2) Kane Mission Sisters. -- 1942-1973. -- 10 cm of textual records and 10 photographs.
This series consists of minutes, correspondence, projects, constitutions, pictures, membership lists and financial materials of the women's group known as Kane Mission Sisters.
Location: Volume 1125, 4778
Language: English and German
3) Financial records, legal documents and correspondence. --1954-1974. -- 10 cm of textual records.
This series consists of correspondence with the Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Manitoba and other organizations. There are also financial statements, ledgers, tax information and the constitutions.
4) Sunday school records. -- 1953-1973. -- 7 cm of textual records
This series consists of minutes of meetings, record of monies collected and disbursed and Sunday School attendance records.
Location: Volume 4778, 4779
Language: English
5) Programs, reports and forms. -- 1954-1972. -- 6 cm of textual records, 1 filmstrip and 1 tape reel.
This series consists of programs from Christian Endeavour and Union Gospel Mission meetings. There are also filmstrip with accompanying sound recording entitled "Secret Mission".
Location: Volume 4778, 4779, 1125
Language: English and German
6) Church materials. -1948-1973. - 5 cm of textual records
This series consists of the general church documents such as the church register, annual mission sales, and communion and donation information.
Location: Volume 1125, 4779
Language: English and German