©Mennonite Heritage Centre 2003
Last updated 15 June 2016

Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Title: Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church fonds
Dates: 1955-2014
Extent: 1.54 m of textual records
Extent: 1 reel of microfilm

Historical note

Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church began services in 1895 in the church building which was brought from the town of Hoffnungsfeld. The church originated through immigrants who came from Russia who settled in the East Reserve (Old Colony) but who later split to form the Bergthaler Mennonite Church. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite is the largest Bergthaler Centre. Jacob M. Wiens is considered to be the founding leader of the congregation with many elders, pastors and ministers serving after him. The church was first named the Bergthaler Mennonite Church at Winkler and was re-named in 1978. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church is located at 252 6th St. in Winkler, MB.

Scope and content note

This fonds consists of two main categories - publications, both regular and special, and minutes detailing the church and its committees. The regular publications included are Church Bulletins (1973-2002), Annual Reports (1964-1999, 2001-2002), newsletters (Informers) (1980-2002), other church newsletter (1980-1982), church directories (1976-1999) and pictorial directories (1970; 1980; 1988; 1994; 1999). The special publications included are a membership list from 1994, the church's 75th Anniversary Album published in 1970, a report of individual financial contributions collected in 1960-1961, membership directories from 1976, 1977 and 1979, and the church's history book, compiled in 1995. The second category includes the church minutes recorded from 1955-1999 with 1955-1981 primarily being on microfilm and 1982-1999 being textual records. The committees included are: Ministerial (1962-1974; 1976-1999), Finance and Administration (1964-1999), Church Council (1960-1999), Education (1966-1973; 1976-1999), Centennial Celebrations (1994-1995), Building (1992-1994), Pictorial (1970;1980;1993-1994), Music (1979-1999), Missions (1966-1973;1979-1999), Nominations (1984-1999), History Book (1989-1994), Sunday School Teachers (1979-1999), Membership (1955-1999), Service (1961-1971), and Church Growth (1980-1982). Other material found within the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church microfilms are two student papers done on the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church done in 1979 and 1980 , "Hoffnungsfeld - Winkler" from Adventure in Faith written by Henry J. Gerbrandt.

Finding aids

Finding aid consists of an inventory file list.

Notes

Custodial history

The majority of the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church fonds was received in 1996 after the church's Centennial celebrations in 1995. The material was received from the church's office.

Arrangement

Arrangement and description done by Kelli Downey on June 27, 2000. Updated by Alf Redekopp, Sept 20, 2004.

Restrictions on access

none

Other notes

Accession no. 96-162, 98-046, 99-140, 00-057.

Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church fonds file inventory list

Volume 41

[NOTE: Bulletins (1969-1976) are in Volume 5245 and 5246.]
  1. Bulletins, 1977.
  2. Bulletins, 1978.
  3. Bulletins, 1979-1980.
  4. Bulletins, 1981.
  5. Bulletins, 1982.
  6. Bulletins, 1983.
  7. Bulletins, 1984.
  8. Bulletins, 1985.

Volume 1606

  1. Bulletins, 1986.
  2. Bulletins, 1987.
  3. Bulletins, 1988. 

Volume 2407

  1. Bulletins, 1989.
  2. Bulletins, 1990.
  3. Bulletins, 1991. 

Volume 2926

  1. Bulletins, 1992.
  2. Bulletins, 1993.
  3. Bulletins, 1994
  4. Bulletins, 1995.
  5. Bulletins, 1996, directory (1996) 

Volume 3808

  1. Bulletins, 1997.
  2. Bulletins, 1998.
  3. Bulletins, 1999.
  4. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church Annual Reports, 1964-1968. 

Volume 4002

  1. Annual Reports, 1969-1980.
  2. Annual Reports, 1981-1984. 

Volume 4252

  1. Annual Reports, 1985-1989.
  2. Annual Reports, 1990-1999.

Volume 4428

  1. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church Informer, 1980.
  2. Informer, 1981.
  3. Informer, 1982.
  4. Informer, 1983.
  5. Informer, 1984.
  6. Informer, 1985. 

Volume 4854

  1. Informer, 1986.
  2. Informer, 1987.
  3. Informer, 1988.
  4. Informer, 1989.
  5. Informer, 1990.
  6. Informer, 1991.
  7. Informer, 1992.
  8. Informer, 1993.
  9. Informer, 1995.
  10. Informer, 1996.
  11. Informer, 1997.
  12. Informer, 1998.
  13. Informer, 1999.
  14. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church Directories, 1976-1984.
  15. Church Directories, 1985-1990.
  16. Church Directories, 1991-1999.
  17. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church Pictorials, 1981-1999.
  18. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church Membership List 1994.
  19. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church 75th Anniversary Album
  20. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church Report of Individual financial contributions, 1960-1961.
  21. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church History Book 1995.
 

Volume 4853

  1. Ministerial Minutes, 1982-1984.
  2. Ministerial Minutes, 1985-1987.
  3. Ministerial Minutes, 1988-1990.
  4. Ministerial Minutes, 1991-1993
  5. Ministerial Minutes, 1994-1995.
  6. Ministerial Minutes, 1996.
  7. Ministerial Minutes, 1997.
  8. Ministerial Minutes, 1998-1999.
  9. Finance and Administration Minutes, 1982-1983.
  10. Finance and Administration Minutes, 1984-1985.
  11. Finance and Administration Minutes, 1986-1987.
  12. Finance and Administration Minutes, 1988-1989.
  13. Finance and Administration Minutes, 1990-1991.
  14. Finance and Administration Minutes, 1992-1993.
  15. Finance and Administration Minutes, 1994.
  16. Finance and Administration Minutes, 1995.
  17. Finance and Administration Minutes, 1996.
  18. Finance and Administration Minutes, 1997.
  19. Finance and Administration Minutes, 1998-1999.
  20. Church Council Minutes, 1982-1983.
  21. Church Council Minutes, 1984-1985.
  22. Church Council Minutes, 1986-1987.
  23. Church Council Minutes, 1988-1989.
  24. Church Council Minutes, 1990-1991.
  25. Church Council Minutes, 1992-1993.
  26. Church Council Minutes, 1994-1995.
  27. Church Council Minutes, 1996.
  28. Church Council Minutes, 1997.
  29. Church Council Minutes, 1998-1999.
  30. Education Committee Minutes, 1982-1984.
  31. Education Committee Minutes, 1986-1988.
  32. Education Committee Minutes, 1989-1991.
  33. Education Committee Minutes, 1992-1995.
  34. Education Committee Minutes, 1996.
  35. Education Committee Minutes, 1997.
  36. Education Committee Minutes, 1998-1999.
  37. Centennial Celebrations Steering Committee Minutes, 1994.
  38. Centennial Celebrations Steering Committee Minutes, 1995.
  39. Pictorial Committee Minutes, 1993-1994.
  40. Building Committee Minutes, 1992-1994.
  41. Music Committee Minutes, 1979-1984.
  42. Music Committee Minutes, 1985-1995.
  43. Music Committee Minutes, 1996.
  44. Music Committee Minutes, 1997.
  45. Music Committee Minutes, 1998-1999.
  46. Mission Committee Minutes, 1982-1985.
  47. Mission Committee Minutes, 1986-1988.
  48. Mission Committee Minutes, 1989-1992.
  49. Mission Committee Minutes, 1993-1995.
  50. Missions Committee Minutes, 1996.
  51. Missions Committee Minutes, 1997.
  52. Missions Committee Minutes, 1998-1999.
  53. Nominations Committee Minutes, 1984-1989.
  54. Nominations Committee Minutes, 1990-1995.
  55. Nominations Committee Minutes, 1996.
  56. Nominations Committee Minutes, 1997.
  57. Nominations Committee Minutes, 1998-1999.
  58. History Book Committee Minutes, 1989-1994.
  59. Sunday School Teacher's Minutes, 1976-1980.
  60. Sunday School Teacher's Minutes, 1981-1987.
  61. Sunday School Teacher's Minutes, 1988-1996.
  62. Membership Meeting Minutes, 1995.
  63. Membership Meeting Minutes, 1996.
  64. Membership Meeting Minutes, 1997.
  65. Membership Meeting Minutes, 1998-1999.

Volume 4941

  1. 2000-2001 Directory
  2. 2000 Annual Report Book
  3. 2000 set of The Bergthaler Informer
  4. 2000 bulletins
  5. 2000 minutes: Membership meetings, church council, music committee, education committee, missions committee, finance committee, ministerial and nominations committee
  6. 1 set of Centennial Cookbooks

Volume 5001

  1. 2001 set of The Bergthaler Informer
  2. Winker Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2001), annual reports (2001)
  3. 2002 set of The Bergthaler Informer
  4. Winker Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2002), annual reports (2002), minutes (2002), member directory (2002)

Volume 5024

  1. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church 2003 Minutes; Membership meetings, Church Council, Ministerial, Education Committee, Missions Committee, Music Committee, Finance Committee, Nominations Committee
  2. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church 2004 Directory
  3. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church Annual Reports - 2002
  4. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church Pictoral Directory - 2003
  5. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church Informer -2003
  6. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church Bulletins - 2003
Volume 2778
  1. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church annual reports 2004
  2. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church Reports:  Education, Missions, Music, Finance & Admin. & Nominations, Ministerial, Church Council and Membership Meetings
  3. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church 2004 Bergthaler Informer
  4. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins - 2004
Volume 5161    
  1. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins - 2006; annual report book (2006); 2006 set of "The Bergthaler Informer"; 2006 Directory; 2006 Minutes for membership meetings, church council, worship committee, education committee, missions committee, finance committee, ministerial and nominations committee
Volume 5245
  1. Bulletins (1959-1974) (bound)
Volume 5246
  1. Bulletins (1975-1976) (bound)
  2. Annual Reports (1970-1972)
  3. Directories (1969-1970, 1976, 1977)
  4. Anniversary publications (1961) (1970)
  5. Guiding principles for weddings in the Bergthaler Mennonite Church, n.d. [1960s?]
Volume 5328
  1. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church minutes, membership meetings, church council, worship committee, education committee, missions committee, finance committee, ministerial and nominations committee
  2. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church 2008 Directory
  3. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church annual reports 2008
  4. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church "The Bergthaler Informer" Vol. 28 #1-10
  5. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2007).
  6. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church minutes, membership meetings, church council, worship committee, education committee, missions committee, finance committee, ministerial and nominations committee
  7. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church 2009 directory
  8. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church 2008 annual report book
  9. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church 2008 set of The Bergthaler Informer
  10.   Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church 2008 bulletins
  11. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church 2008 pictorial directory
Volume 5448   
  1. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2009)
  2. The Bergthaler Informer (2009) Vol. 30 #1-6
  3. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church Minutes (2009), Education Committee, Missions Committee, Worship Committee, Nominations Committee
  4. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church Minutes (2009), Membership Mtgs., Church Council, Ministerial, Finance and Admin. Committee
  5. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church (2010) Directory
  6. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church (2009) Annual Reports
  7. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church (2010); 2011 Directory; annual report book (2010); financial statements (2010); Nominations Committee Minutes (2010); Worship Committee Minutes (2010); Missions Committee Meeting Minutes (2010); Finance Administration (2010); Education Committee Minutes (2010); Church Council & Membership Minutes (2010); Ministerial Minutes (2010); The Bergthaler Informer (Vol. 31 #1-10, 2010)
Volume 5590
  1. Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2011); 2012 Directory; 2011 Annual Report book; Ministerial minutes (2011); Worship Committee minutes (2011); Missions Committee (2011); Finance & Administration (2011); Education Committee (2011); Church Council (2011); Membership (2011); Informer Vol. 32 #1-11 (2011)
Volume 5738
1.  Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2012); The Bergthaler Informer (33/2012 1-11); 2013 Directory; Constitution and By-Laws of the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church (April 27, 1998 with revisions 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2012); annual report book 2012; Membership meeting minutes (2012); Church Council Meeting minutes (2012); Ministerial Meeting minutes (2012); Finance and Administration Meeting minutes (2012); Education Committee Meeting minutes (2012); Missions Committee Meeting minutes (2012); Worship Committee Meeting minutes (2012); Nominations Committee Meeting minutes (2012)

Volume 5739
1.  Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2013); 2014 Directory; Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church Financial Statements (2013); annual report book (2013); Church Council Meeting minutes (2013); Ministerial Meeting minutes (2013); Finance and Administration Meeting minutes (2013); Nominations Committee Meeting minutes (2013); Education Committee Meeting minutes (2013); Missions Committee Meeting minutes (2013); Worship Committee Meeting minutes (2013); The Bergthaler Informer 34/2013 #1-11).
2.  Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2014); The Bergthaler Informer (2014); Financial Statements (2014); Annual Reports (2014); 2015 Directory; Special Membership Meeting (2014); Ministerial Meeting minutes (2014); Church Council meeting minutes (2014); Education Committee meeting minutes (2014); Nominations Committee meeting minutes (2014); Finance and Administration Meeting Minutes (2014)

Volume 6299
1.  Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (2015); 2015 annual report book; "The Bergthaler Informer", 36/2015 #6-11; Quarterly membership meeting minutes (2015); Education Committee meeting minutes (2015); Finance and Administration Committee meeting minutes (2015); Missions Committee meeting minutes (2015); Worship Committee meeting minutes (2015); Ministerial meeting minutes (2015); Nominations Committee meeting minutes (2015)

Microfilm No. 352,353, 354 - Table of Contents

(MHC Project No. 108)

  1. Church Registers - alphabetical record of members; date when started unknown.
  2. Membership Directories - 1976, 1977, 1979. Pictorial Directories - 1970, 1980
  3. Membership Meeting Minutes - November 20, 1955 - February 1, 1982
  4. Annual Report Books - 1964-1981
  5. Church Council Minutes - December 30, 1960 - December 15, 1980
  6. Service Committee Minutes - February 3, 1961 - December 20, 1971
  7. Ministerial Minutes - February 1, 1962 - March 16, 1974; April 5, 1976 - December 7, 1981
  8. Finance and Administration Minutes - February 6, 1964 - December 7,1981
  9. Missions Committee - February 15, 1966 - November 13, 1973; May 7, 1976 - November 30, 1981
  10. Education Committee Minutes - February 16, 1966 - November 7, 1973; May 5, 1976 - December 9, 1981
  11. Sunday School Teachers Minutes - February 17, 1980 - January 5, 1982
  12. Church Growth Minutes - February 17, 1980 - January 5, 1982
  13. Newsletters - October, 1980 - March 1982 (Vol. 1, #1 - Vol. 3, #3)
  14. Correspondence - Letter February 18, 1970 from Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church . Council, Chairman: Rev. P.J. Froese, secretary: Frank Peters.
  15. Agenda and Reports for membership meeting, November 18, 1965
  16. Histories
    1. Elias, Ron "History of the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church" research paper, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 1979. Located in the Vertical File at Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
    2. Klassen, John P. "Growth Study of the Winkler Bergthaler Church" research paper, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 1980. Located in the Vertical File at Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives, Winnipeg, MB.
    3. "Hoffnungsfeld - Winkler," Adventures in Faith, Henry J. Gerbrandt. Altona, Manitoba: D.W. Friesen and Sons Ltd., 1970, pages 123-138.