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Fraserview Mennonite Brethren Church – Vancouver, BC

Proper Title

Fraserview Mennonite Brethren Church fonds

Dates of Creation

1954–2018

Physical Description

36.4 cm of textual files and 1 microfilm reel

Administrative History

Many Mennonite Brethren migrated to Vancouver in the 1940s and 1950s causing the newly finished Vancouver Mennonite Brethren Church to fill to overflowing. Also, there was a group of people who preferred services in English to German. With the full support from the Vancouver Mennonite Brethren Church, 238 people took initiative, and purchased land to build a new church. In November 1954, the Fraserview Mennonite Brethren Church was dedicated.

David Vogt and John Neufeld were elected as the first leader and assistant leader of this new church. George Konrad and John Wall were hired to preach, alternately in German and English until they called their first pastor, Peter R. Toews.

In 1954, they held their first business meeting, and, in 1955, they were officially accepted as a church of the BC Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.

Before long the facilities were insufficient for the number of people attending and there was talk about establishing a new sanctuary with the cooperation of Vancouver MB Church and Fraserview Church. Although this proposal was not carried out, each church instead went ahead separately; Fraserview built the Killarney Park Mennonite Brethren Church.

In 1960, space was again needed, but this time an extension was added to the existing church building. Some renovations were also done in 1967/1968. Again, membership grew, but expansion was not necessary as many people left the church to join the newly organized Richmond Bethel Mennonite Brethren Church in 1971. Ground breaking ceremonies for that building took place in the fall of 1977 and the dedication took place in May 1979.

As of 2004, the average attendance at Fraserview was 315 with a membership of 214.

Leaders of the church included Peter R. Toews (1955–1962), Wilmer Kornelsen (1963–1967), John A. Toews (1968–1971), Loyal Funk (1972–1981), Peter R. Toews (1982–1983, “Bridging Pastor”), Peter W. Nikkel (1983–1990), Herb Brandt (1990–1991), Dan Unrau (1991–2013), Jerry Giesbrecht (2013–2016), Dan Unrau (interim 2017–2018), Andrew Gleddiesmith (2018– ).

The language of worship is English.

Scope and Content

This fonds consists of history, 25th anniversary book, directory and prayer guide, bulletins, membership and family record, congregational and church council meeting minutes.

Notes

  • Location: Volumes 379–381, 395, Microfilm reel #71.
  • Description by Shauna Hudson, June 10, 2004. Updated by Yvonne Snider-Nighswander, October 12, 2011. Updated by Kate Woltmann July 16, 2013. Updated by Emma Sorensen June 2018. Updated by Kieran Schellenberg September 2020.
  • Finding aid consists of a file list.
  • Formerly classified under the Canadian Conference of MB Churches inventory number BB532.
  • No restrictions on access.

File List

Volume 379

  1. History. 25th Anniversary Book. -- 1954–1978. --1954–1984.
  2. Directory and Prayer Guide. -- 1993.
      2a.Church policy statement on sexual abuse. -- 1993.
  3. Bulletins. -- 1967–1968.
  4. Bulletins. -- 1969–1970.
  5. Bulletins. -- 1971.
  6. Bulletins. -- 1972.
  7. Bulletins. -- 1973.
  8. Bulletins. -- 1974.
  9. Bulletins. -- 1975.
  10. Bulletins. -- 1976–1977.
  11. Bulletins. -- 1978–1979.
  12. Bulletins. -- 1980–1982.
  13. Bulletins. -- 1983–1984.

Volume 380

  1. Bulletins. -- 1985.
  2. Bulletins. -- 1986.
  3. Bulletins. -- 1987.
  4. Bulletins. -- 1988.
  5. Bulletins. -- 1989.
  6. Bulletins. -- 1990.
  7. Bulletins. -- 1991.
  8. Bulletins. -- 1992.
  9. Bulletins. -- 1993.
  10. Bulletins. -- 1994.
  11. Bulletins. -- 1995.
  12. Bulletins. -- 1996.
  13. Bulletins. -- 1997.
  14. Bulletins. -- 1998.
  15. Bulletins. -- 1999.

Volume 381

1. Bulletins. -- 2000.
2. Bulletins. -- 2001.
3. Bulletins. -- 2002.
4. Bulletins. -- 2003.
5. Bulletins. -- 2004.
6. Bulletins. -- 2005.
7. Bulletins. -- 2006.
8. Bulletins. -- 2007.
9. Bulletins. -- 2008.
10. Bulletins. -- 2009.
11. Bulletins. -- 2010.
12. Bulletins. -- 2011.
13. Bulletins. -- 2012.

Volume 395

  1. Bulletins. -- 2013.
  2. Bulletins. -- 2014.
  3. Bulletins. -- 2015.
  4. Bulletins. -- 2016.
  5. Bulletins. -- 2017.
  6. Bulletins. -- 2018.

Microfilm file list

Reel 71

  • Membership and Family Record. -- p. 928–1147.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. Nov 1954–Apr 1957. -- p. 1–82.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. May 1957–May 1964. -- p. 83–404.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. Jun 1964–Jul 1978. -- p. 1148–1447.
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes. Apr 1957–Jun 1960. -- p. 405–523.
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes. Aug 1960–Feb 1966. -- p. 524–727.
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes. Feb 1966–May 1973. -- p. 728–927.
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes. Aug 1973–Nov 1978. -- p. 1448–1565.
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