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Grace Church – Cranberry Portage, MB

Proper Title

Grace Church fonds

Dates of Creation

1966–2022

Physical Description

12 cm of textual records

Administrative History

The Grace Church congregation grew out of efforts of the Presbyterian Church to serve the community of Cranberry Portage beginning in the 1930s. In 1966, school teacher George and Helen Penner moved into the community with their family. They had Mennonite Brethren roots and chose to become active lay leaders in the Knox Presbyterian Church that was struggling to remain viable.

Through the 1970s, conversations began with representatives of the Mennonite Brethren church about whether the congregation could become part of a Manitoba Mennonite Brethren church planting effort. By 1978, the arrangement had evolved such that the Knox Presbyterian Church was dissolved and a Mennonite Brethren congregation was established to continue ministry in the community. The Grace Church congregation was officially chartered as a church in 1982 and accepted as a member congregation in the Manitoba Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches in 1983.

The leaders of the congregation were: Gary Sawatzky (1978–1979), John Nikkel (1980–1985), Ted Goossen (1986–1995), Bob Hay (1996), Bill Lothian (1996–2008), and Bob Hay (2009– ).

The language of worship is English.

Scope and Content

This fonds consists of a brief history of the congregation and congregational bulletins.

Custodial History

Records were transferred to the Centre for MB Studies archives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 2017 and 2018, lay leader Bob Hay deposited documents relating to the congregations early years, 25th anniversary, and 40th anniversary.

Notes

  • Volume 519.
  • Finding aid consists of a file list.
  • Accession No. 2017-16.
  • Formerly classified under the Canadian Conference of MB Churches inventory BC-537.
  • Described by Bert Friesen 7 September 2001; updated by Jon Isaak, December 2018.
  • No restrictions.

File List

Volume 519

  1. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren history. -- 1928–1985.
  2. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren bulletins. -- 1979–1982.
  3. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren bulletins. -- 1985.
  4. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren bulletins. -- 1986.
  5. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren bulletins. -- 1987.
  6. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren bulletins. -- 1988.
  7. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren bulletins. -- 1989.
  8. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren bulletins. -- 1990.
  9. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren bulletins. -- 1991.
  10. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren bulletins. -- 1992.
  11. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren bulletins. -- 1993.
  12. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren bulletins. -- 1994.
  13. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren bulletins. -- 1995.
  14. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren bulletins. -- 1996.
  15. Constitution. -- [198-?].
  16. Grace Church of the Mennonite Brethren bulletins. -- 2003, 2011, 2017.
  17. Slide show presentation text written by Bernice Hay telling story of the Grace Church. -- 1994?
  18. Two letters written by Bob Hay re. the church and its ministry. -- 2017, 2018.
  19. Grace Church bulletin. -- 2022.
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