Namaka Mennonite Brethren Church – Namaka, AB
Proper Title
Namaka Mennonite Brethren Church fonds
Dates of Creation
1927–1973
Physical Description
8.6 cm of textual records
Administrative History
Mennonite immigrants settled in the Namaka area in 1927. They were labourers on land indirectly controlled by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Later they were able to purchase land with generous terms to pay off their travel debts and land debts. A congregation was begun in 1927 as a joint congregation between the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren (Allianz) and the Conference of Mennonites in Canada.
The Evangelical Mennonite Brethren built their own meeting house in 1933 but still held joint services once a month. In 1937, the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren group joined the Bruderthaler Conference based in the mid-western USA. However, this arrangement proved difficult because of the distances involved, so in 1941 so the group joined the Mennonite Brethren Conference in Alberta.
In 1946, the now Mennonite Brethren and the Conference of Mennonites in Canada families still worshiped together once a month. The membership stood at 29 in 1955. The congregation disbanded in 1968.
The leaders of the congregation were Aron A. Toews (1927–1947), Gerhard Dirks (1948–1966), Victor Thiessen (1967–1968).
The language of worship is German.
Scope and Content
This fonds consists of a brief congregational history (1977, 2000), Namaka Mennonite Cemetery inventory (1984), congregational documents and correspondence concerning immigration, property, membership, death and marriage certificates (1945–1973), congregational meeting minutes (1934, 1942–1949, 1952–1968), congregational Judenverein minutes (1931–1938), and a membership and family register (1927–1969).
Custodial History
Records were transferred to the Centre for MB Studies archives in Winnipeg, Manitoba after 1969.
Notes
- Volume 343.
- Finding aid consists of a series description and a file list.
- Formerly classified under the Canadian Conference of MB Churches inventory BA-518.
- Described by Bert Friesen 18 September 2001.
- No restrictions.
Series Descriptions
I. Namaka Mennonite Brethren Church history.
1977–2000.
0.2 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of congregational and community history (1977) and an account of a reunion (2000).
II. Namaka Mennonite Cemetery.
1984.
0.2 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of an inventory of grave sites at the Namaka Mennonite Cemetery (1984).
III. Namaka Mennonite Brethren Church certificates.
1945–1973.
0.4 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of congregational documents and correspondence concerning immigration, property, membership, death and marriage certificates (1945–1973).
IV. Namaka Mennonite Brethren Church minutes.
1934–1968.
3.4 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of congregational meeting minutes (1934, 1942–1949, 1952–1968).
V. Namaka Mennonite Brethren Church Youth minutes.
1931–1938.
2.6 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of congregational Judenverein minutes (1931–1938).
VI. Namaka Mennonite Brethren Church register.
1927–1969.
1.8 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of a membership and family register (1927–1969).
File List
Volume 343
- Namaka Mennonite Brethren Church history. -- 1977, 2000.
- Namaka Mennonite Cemetery. -- 1984.
- Namaka Mennonite Brethren Certificates. -- 1945–1973.
- Namaka Mennonite Brethren Church minutes. -- 1934, 1942–1949, 1952–1968.
- Namaka Mennonite Brethren Church Judenverein minutes. -- 1931–1938.
- Namaka Mennonite Brethren Church register. -- 1927–1969.