Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1930-2011 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
600 cm of textual records
Photographs
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
Soon after its formal organization in 1936, this congregation was named the Abbotsford United Mennonite Church. In 1950, the church changed its name to West Abbotsford Mennonite Church. To relieve their growing attendance, Peardonville Mennonite Church (1952) and Clearbrook Mennonite Church (1953) were established as daughter congregations, both of which later secured their own autonomy. The congregation was also involved with the Prairie Chapel outreach.
The language of worship was initially German. Gradually English was introduced in the late 1950s. A group that wanted to maintain the German language durin worship led to the establishment of Eben-Ezer Mennonite Church in 1963.
West Abbotsford Mennonite Church struggled with its affiliations with Mennonite conferences. They left the BC Conference of Mennonites in 1953 but rejoined in 1957. In 2006 they became an Area Conference Only Member and left Mennonite Church Canada.
In 2007 discussions began with Wellspring Christian Fellowship about a possible merger, and in the end the membership of both West Abbotsford and Wellspring congregations voted overwhelmingly in favor of forming a new congregation. The new congregation had a chartering service in January 2009 and chose the name Level Ground Mennonite Church.
(See GAMEO for names of leaders and for membership numbers.)
Archival history
Donated by Alfred Redekopp Mennonite Historical Society Winnipeg
Dave Loewen was also a donor.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Fonds is arranged in the following series:
1) Constitution & Bylaws - 1936, 1953-1959, 1962, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1977-1979, 1986-1989, 1996-1999, 2002, 2004 - (3 files) - Box 63
2) History - 1963-1964, 1986-1988, 1979-2009 (4 files) - Box 63
3) Minutes - 1936-2000 - (30 files) - Box 63-65
4) Correspondence - 1936-2011 - (65 files) Boxes 65-68
5) Financial Records - 1947-2006 - (30 files) - Boxes 68-70
6) Legal Documents - 1964-2008 - (5 files) - Box 70
7) Reports - 1941-2007 - (14 files) - Box 70
8) Lists - 1936-2006 - (15 files) - Box 70
9) Vital Statistics - 1934-2008 - (15 files) - Boxes 71-72
10) Personnel - 1979-2006 - (14 files) - Box 72
11) Certificates, including membership transfers - 1948-2008, 1971-1996, 1958-2006 - (5 files) - Box 72
12) Publications - 1941-2008 - (41 files) - Boxes 73-75
13) Lectures & Sermons - 1957-1996 - (3 files) - Box 76
14) Education - 1948-2009 - (51 files) - Boxes 76-77
15) Youth - 1956-2007 - (13 files) - Box 78
16) Music - 1960, 1963, 1973, 1975, 1976-1989, 1990-1997, 2006 - (2 files) - Box 78
17) Service - 1950-2007 - (26 files) - Boxes 78-80
18 Missions - 1957-2004 - (6 files) - Box 80
19) Construction - 1965, 1975-1976, 1982, 1984 - (2 files) - Box 80
20) Photographs - (1 file) - Box 80
21) Clippings - 1961-2008 - (1 file) - Box 80
22) Guest Books (4) - 1972-1993 - (2 files) - Box 80
23) Ephemera - (1 file) - Box 80
24) Conference of Mennonites in Canada - 1949-2007 - (5 files) - Box 80
25) Conference of Mennonites in BC - 1936-2008 - (5 files) - Box 80
26) Confidential. (Permission is required to access these files). - (4 files) - Box 81
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
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Language and script notes
Some records are in German
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Record created February 21, 2006
Record modified July 23, 2015