©Mennonite Heritage Centre 2002
Last updated 30 Jan 2019

Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Title: Bethany Mennonite Church (Virgil) fonds
Dates: 1966-2002; 2004-2017
Extent: 68 cm of textual records

Historical note

Bethany Mennonite Church was an outgrowth of the Niagara United Mennonite Church in 1964. It was mandated to provide a congregational home in the English language, whereas the mother congregation, Niagara, would be more for the German language. Bethany had 144 charter members in 1964. The membership was 317 in 1977. It remained at about that level, being 305 in 2000. The leaders of the congregation were: David Janzen (1964-1967), David P. Neufeld (1967-1977), Peter Klassen (interim) (1977), Harold Nigh (interim) (1977-1978), Waldemar Regier (1978-1987), David Janzen / Peter Klassen (interim) (1987-1988), Peter Falk (interim) (1988-1989), Lester Kehl (1989-1998), Randy & Renate Klaassen (1998- ). Associate ministers that served the congregation were: Henry P. Epp (1984), David Schneider (1991-1994), Andy Brubacher Kaethler (1993-2000), Troy Watson (2001-2007).

Scope and content note

The fonds contains bulletins (1967-2002, 2008-2016), directories (1966-1999), newsletters (1973-2001), annual reports (1974-1996, 2004-2016), a brief congregational history (1977), and congregational meeting minutes (1981-1997). The records pertain to the founding and development the congregation and they document the activities of the leaders and participants.

Finding aids

Inventory file list available.

Notes

Restrictions on access

No restrictions on access.

Other notes

Textual records have been deposited by the congregation at the Mennonite Heritage Centre on a regular basis. Described by Bert Friesen 11 March 2002.

Bethany Mennonite Church (Virgil) fonds file list:

Volume 1

1. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1967), directory (1966)
2. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1968), directory (1968)
3. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1969), directory (1969)
4. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1970), directory (1970)
5. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1971)
6. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1972)
7. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1973), newsletter (1973)
8. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1974), annual reports (1974)
9. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1975), annual reports (1975)

Volume 968

1. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1976), annual reports (1976), directory (1976)
2. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1977), annual reports (1977), directory (1977), a brief congregational history (1977)
3. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1978), newsletters (1978)
4. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1979), newsletters (1979)

Volume 1935

1. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1980), newsletters (1980), pictorial directory (1974), annual reports (1980)
2. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1981), newsletters (1981), congregational meeting minutes (1981), annual reports (1981)
3. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1982), newsletters (1982), congregational meeting minutes (1982), constitution (1982), annual reports (1982),
4. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1983), newsletters (1983), annual reports (1983)

Volume 2790

1. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1984), newsletters (1984), annual reports (1984)
2. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1985), newsletters (1985), annual reports (1985)
3. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1986), newsletters (1986), directory ([1986])
4. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1987), newsletters (1987), annual reports (1987)

Volume 3812

1. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1988), newsletters (1988), action plan report (1988), congregational meeting minutes (1988)
2. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1989), annual reports (1989)
3. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1990), congregational meeting minutes (1990), newsletters (1990), annual reports (1990)
4. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1991), congregational meeting minutes (1991), newsletters (1991), directory (1991), annual reports (1991)

Volume 4253

1. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1992), newsletters (1992), directory (1992)
2. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1993), newsletters (1993), cluster care directory (1993-1994), congregational meeting minutes (1993), annual reports (1993)
3. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1994), newsletters (1994), congregational meeting minutes (1994), annual reports (1994), directory (1994)
4. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1995), newsletters (1995), directory (1995)

Volume 4505

1. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1996), newsletters (1996), directory (1996), annual reports (1996)
2. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1997), newsletters (1997), congregational meeting minutes (1997), directory (1997)
3. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1998), newsletters (1998), directory (1998)
4. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (1999), newsletters (1999), directory (1999)

Volume 4604

1. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (2000), newsletters (2000)
2. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (2001), newsletters (2001)
3. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (2002) [incomplete]
4. Bethany Mennonite Church annual report books, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
5. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (2008)
6. Bethany Mennonite Church bulletins (2009), annual report book (2009), telephone directory (2010)