Regal Heights Mennonite Brethren Church – Moose Jaw, SK
Proper Title
Regal Heights Mennonite Brethren Church fonds
Dates of Creation
1962–2012
Physical Description
66 cm of textual records and 1 reel of microfilm
Administrative History
The Regal Heights Mennonite Brethren congregation in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, began as a home Bible study in 1964 by Lorlie Barkman under the direction of the Saskatchewan Mennonite Brethren Mission Committee. On June 4, 1967, the church was officially organized with 14 charter members. The first building was occupied in 1970. Leaders include Lorlie Barkman (1964–1975), Leo Siemens (1975–1982), John Klassen (1982–1991), Barry Gammie (1991–1997), and Bill Glasspell (1997–1999).
In 1975, there were 32 members; in 1985, 57; in 1995, 38. The congregation affiliated with the three levels of the Mennonite Brethren Conference since 1967. The address was 1291 Gordon Rd., Moose Jaw.
The congregation closed in 1999 due to low attendance.
Note: In 2003, Harvey and Shirley Janzen and Josinaldo and Shantelle Almeida had a vision to start a church in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan after Regal Heights Mennonite Brethren Church closed in June 1999. The Janzens eventually left for Yorkton, but the Almeidas continued and began hosting a regular gathering in their home. Services began in November 2003. The new church is known as Praire Winds Church.
Scope and Content
This fonds consists of the following series: Membership, family and attendance records, historical materials, minutes, correspondence, and constitutions of church bodies, and financial records.
Custodial History
This material was created and collected by members of the church. Early records were microfilmed in 1978. Some materials, such as the historical sketch, were sent to the archives at the time of the compilation of the history of MB congregations in Canada occurred in 1988. When the church closed, the Saskatchewan Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Board of Management assumed responsibility for the church and deposited the materials in 2004. More materials were deposited in 2009 and 2021.
Notes
- Volumes 618, 1280, and 1281, microfilm reel #47.
- Described by Conrad Stoesz July 22, 2004. Updated by Theo Dyck, August 31, 2010.
- Accession numbers: 2004-014, 2009-39, 2021-05.
- Formerly classified under the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches inventory BF522.
- Finding aid consists of a series description and a file list.
- Some restrictions on access may apply.
Series Descriptions
I. Membership, family and attendance records.
1967–1996.
8 cm of textual records, 1 reel of microfilm.
- Location: volume 618, files 1–14; volume 1281, files 3, 23, 25; microfilm R47, pp. 492–497.
- This series contains membership information such as baptism certificates, church membership documents, and attendance records for Sunday services, Sunday school and Vacation Bible School.
II. Historical materials.
1975–1996.
17 cm of textual records.
- Location: volume 1280, files 1–6; volume 1281, files 1–2.
- This series contains church bulletins and both telephone and pictorial directories.
III. Minutes, correspondence and constitutions of church bodies.
1962–2000.
38 cm of textual records, 1 reel of microfilm.
- Location: volume 1281, files 4-22, 24, 26-27; microfilm R47, pp. 212-491.
- This series contains minutes of congregational meetings and the church board (1962-1977).
- Complete constitutions from 1977 and 1994 are extant, along with amendments and organizational charts (1968–1976).
- Correspondence and schedules regarding the church’s 25th anniversary celebrations are extant ([1995]).
- The church investigated constructing a new building (1977–1980), but never did.
- The Inreach Committee was a coordinating body for the church’s ministries to its own members (1996). The church went through the process of creating a logo in 1979. Correspondence and receipts pertaining to maintenance of the church building are extant from 1982 to 1983, along with correspondence with missionaries (1994–1996).
- The Nominations Committee was responsible for filling positions on church committees and ministries (1978–1995).
- Various undated church publicity materials from the 1990s are extant, as well as course materials from the Vacation Bible School ([1993–1995?]).
- There are also schedules and teaching materials for the Youth Group [1985?] along with a petition to various youth organizations in the city of Moose Jaw, urging them to avoid scheduling events on Sunday mornings (1996).
IV. Financial records.
1967–2012.
3 cm of textual records.
- Location: volume 1281, files 28–32.
- This series contains church financial statements and records (1967–1997), along with weekly offering counting records (1987–1988).
- This series also contains the documents related to the sale of the church property to the Foursquare church in 2003.
File List
Volume 618
1. (BF522) Regal Heights historical information. -- 1988.
2. Membership records – active members. -- 1967–1993.
3. Membership records – inactive members. -- 1986–1988.
4. Membership records. -- 1973–1980.
5. Baptismal certificate books. -- 1976–1993.
6. Child dedication certificates. -- 1976–1979.
7. Funeral records. -- 1982–1995.
8. Membership transfer records. -- 1974–1995.
9. Sunday school committee minutes, attendance records, and teaching lesson themes. -- 1989–1990.
10. Sunday School attendance records. -- 1988–1989.
11. Sunday School minutes and attendance records. -- 1987–1988.
12. Sunday School minutes and attendance records. -- 1986–1987.
13. Sunday School minutes and attendance records. -- 1985–1986.
14. Sunday School minutes and attendance records. -- 1984–1985.
Volume 1280
1. Church bulletins. -- 1975–1979.
2. Church bulletins. -- 1980–1981.
3. Church bulletins. -- 1982–1984.
4. Church bulletins. -- 1985–1987.
5. Church bulletins. -- 1988–1990.
6. Church bulletins. -- 1991–1994.
V0lume 1281
1. Church directories. -- 1975–1996.
2. Pictorial directory. -- [1994?].
3. Attendance records. -- 1978–1981.
4. Minutes and reports to the Church Board. -- 1977–1979.
5. Minutes of the Church Board. -- 1980–1984.
6. Minutes of the Church Board. -- 1985–1991.
7. Minutes of the Church Board. -- 1992–1997.
8. Minutes of the Church Executive. -- 1982–1993.
9. Reports and minutes of congregational meetings. -- 1968–1979.
10. Reports and minutes of congregational meetings. -- 1980–1989.
11. Reports and minutes of congregational meetings. -- 1990–1997.
12. Minutes of the congregational and the Church Board. -- 1962–1979.
13. Constitutions. -- 1977, 1994.
14. Constitutional amendments and organizational charts. -- 1968–1976.
15. Correspondence and schedules of the 25th anniversary. -- [1995].
16. Church building plans and correspondence. -- 1977–1980.
17. Minutes of the Inreach Committee. -- 1996.
18. Logo and building sketches.-- [1979?].
19. Maintenance receipts and correspondence. -- 1982–1983.
20. Correspondence from missionaries. -- 1994–1996.
21. Records of the Nominations Committee. -- 1978–1995.
22. Church publicity materials. -- [199-].
23. Vacation Bible School class records. -- 1976–1980.
24. Materials of the Vacation Bible School. -- [1993–1995?].
25. Wedding, baptism, child dedication and funeral records. -- 1996.
26. Schedules and teaching materials of the Youth Group. -- [1985?].
27. Petition to Moose Jaw youth organizations. -- 1992.
28. Financial reports and records. -- 1967–1997.
29. Offering counting records. -- 1987–1988.
30. Insurance report. -- 1999–2000.
31. Legal and insurance documents related to the sale of the Regal Heights church property to the Foursquare Church. -- 2003–2012.
Microfilm list
1. Data and charts showing church attendance and growth. -- 1975–1976. -- p. 492–497.
2. Annual reports. -- 1967, 1969–1977. – p. 296–427.
3. Congregational and church board minutes. -- 1962–1977. – p. 1–211.
4. Congregational and church board minutes. -- 1977. – p. 212–295.
5. Congregational and church board minutes. -- 1978. – p. 428–491.