← Back to Institutional Records

Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church – Coaldale, AB

Proper Title

Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church fonds

Dates of Creation

1926–2016

Physical Description

24.5 cm of textual records and 3 microfilm reels

Administrative History

Mennonite immigrants from Russia settled in the Coaldale area in the 1920s. A congregation was organized in 1926 with 21 charter members. They met on farms and then in rented facilities. In 1929, they completed their own meeting house. Two additions were added with 3 years. In 1939, the membership had reached 433 and a new meeting house was constructed near the town. This building is now a community museum.

In 1971, a new meeting house was constructed on a town site. The congregation also founded their own Saturday German school (1927–1971). In 1928, the congregation formed the Coaldale Mennonite Health Society. The congregation operated the Coaldale Bible School (1929–1961). In 1934. they helped found the Coaldale Hospital. They were instrumental in operating the Alberta Mennonite High School (1946–1964). The congregation sponsored the radio programmes called “Gospel Bells” (1952–1968) and “Brot des Lebens” (1960–1973).

Coaldale is the first Mennonite Brethren church in Alberta. In 2000, there were 335 members, and in 2015, there were 15.

The leaders of the congregation include Klaas Enns (1926), Franz Friesen (1926–1928), Benjamin B. Janz (1928–1948), Peter B. Epp (1948), Jacob Siemens (1948–1956), David Pankratz (1956–1973), John Dueck (1973–1974), Rudy Heidebrecht (1974–1996), Randy Klassen (1997), Henry Willms (1998), Lorne Willms (1999–2007), Randy Dueck (2007–2012), Tom Allen (2012–2014), Gary Burke (2014– ).

Scope and Content

This fonds consists 12 series. Financial records, Coaldale Gem of the West, Alberta Mennonite Brethren Missions, Coaldale Mennonite Brethren church yearbooks and annual reports, church records index, Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church directories, Church Anniversaries, Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church revisited, Church bulletins, Church registers, and Church minutes.

Custodial History

Records were transferred to the Centre for MB Studies archives in Winnipeg, Manitoba on a regular basis to 1999. Some records were microfilmed in 1978 through the work of the Historical Commission of the Mennonite Brethren Conference.

Notes

  • Volumes 324–325.
  • Finding aid consists of a series description and a file list.
  • Formerly classified under the Canadian Conference of MB Churches inventory BA-501.
  • Finding aid for microfilm: R47, pp.1300–2233, R48, pp.1–1518, R49, pp.1–1278.
  • Described by Bert Friesen 27 September 2001, microfilm file list adapted from a previous finding aid by Leslie Wiebe June 2003.
  • No restrictions on access.

Series Descriptions

I. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church history.
1956–1957, 1979, 1989.
0.8 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of an historical sketch of the congregation (1979), brief congregational histories (1979, 1989) and reflections about the congregation by Peter H. Regehr.

II. Financial records.
1938–1944.
0.2 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of congregational financial records (1938–1944).

III. Coaldale Gem of the West Museum.
1994–1999.
0.2 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of museum documents in the 1939 meeting house of the congregation (1994–1999).

IV. Alberta Mennonite Brethren Missions.
[196-?].
0.2 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of a conference minute ([196-?]) concerning a Coaldale mission project and an article concerning the same (1966).

V. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church yearbooks and annual reports.
1950–1985.
553 pp.; microfilm and 2 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of annual congregational yearbooks and annual reports consisting of statistical and financial information (1950–1977).

VI. Church records index.
1928–1970.
2.5 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of a topical context index for the congregational records (1928–1970).

VII. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church directories.
1967, 1994, 1996.
0.4 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of congregational address and telephone directories (1967, 1994) and a list of ministers in the congregation from 1926 to [199-?] (1996).

VIII. Church Anniversaries.
1951, 1976.
2 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of 2 copies of the books about the 25th and 50th anniversary of the congregation.

IX. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church Revisited.
1993.
4 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of a programme for a history symposium about the congregation (1993).

X. Church bulletins.
1964, 1968, 1970, 1973, 1975–1977, 1985, 1989–1998.
11.2 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of congregational bulletins and programmes for special occasions.

XI. Church registers.
1926–1978.
1278 pp.; microfilm.

  • This series consists of congregational membership register and family register, which includes data on birth, baptism, marriage, and death (1926–1978).

XII. Church minutes.
1926–1978.
2552 pp.; microfilm and 1 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of congregational meeting minutes (1926–1978) and church council minutes (1948–1978).

File List

Volumes 324–325
1. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church history. -- 1979, 1989.
2. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church financial records. -- 1938–1944.
3. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church special occasions. -- 1964, 1976, 1982, 1999.
4. Coaldale Gem of the West Museum documents. -- 1994–1999.
5. Closing of the Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church mission. -- [196-?].
6. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church yearbooks. -- 1950, 1951, 1956, 1962–1968, 1971–1974.
7. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church yearbooks. -- 1977, 1980–1982, 1984–1985.
8. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church subject index. -- 1928–1970.
9. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church Wogen u. Wellen. -- 1956–1957.
10. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church directories. -- 1967, 1989, 1994.
11. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church Revisited. -- 1993.
12. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church 25th anniversary book. -- 1951.
13. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church 50th anniversary book. -- 1976.
14. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church council minutes. -- 1942–1947.
15. Empty.
16. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1968, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1985.
17. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1989.
18. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1990.
19. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1991.
20. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1992.
21. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1993.
22. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1994.
23. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1995.
24. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1996.
25. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1997.
26. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1998.
27. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church. Baptism Photo. -- 2009.
28. Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church. 90th Anniversary Celebration. April 24, 2016. -- 2016.
29. Pastor couple, baptism announcements. -- 2012–2013.

Microfilm file list

Reel 47

  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. – May 1926–Feb.1930. – p.1300–1336.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. – May 1930–Sept.1933. – p.1337–1634.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Nov.1933–Mar.1938. – p.1635–1932.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Apr.1938–May 1945. – p.1933–2233.

Reel 48

  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. – May 1945–Mar.1955. – p.1–300.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Mar.1955–Nov.1962. – p.301–607.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Nov.1962–Sept.1971. – p.608–906.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. – Oct.1971–[19-]. – p.907–1049.
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes. – Jan.1948–May 1957. – p.1050–1162.
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes. – June 1957–Dec.1960. – p.1163–1246.
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes. – Dec.1960–Apr.1966. – p.1247–1341.
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes. – Apr.1966–Aug.1978. – p.1342–1518.
  • Statistical and Financial Annual Reports. – 1950–1977. – p.1519–2071.

Reel 49

  • Membership and Family Register. – 1926–[19-]. – p.1–1171.
  • Register of Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, Vol. I. – 1926–1959. – p. 1172–1239.
  • Register of Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, Vol.II. – 1960–1978. – p. 1240–1265.
  • Register of Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths, Vol.III. – 1975–1978. – p. 1266–1278.
← Back to Institutional Records