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Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church – Winnipeg, MB

Proper Title

Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church fonds

Dates of Creation

1955–1998, 2008–2022

Physical Description

37.5 cm of textual records and 1 microfilm reel

Administrative History

The Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church started in a tiny chapel called the Gospel Light Mission located on Logan Avenue in Winnipeg. It was referred to as the Logan Mission. Because of the growth of the group, they needed to move to a larger location. When it re-located to 760 McMillan Avenue, it was called the Fort Rouge MB Church. Many people joined the congregation, especially from the old South End MB Church. Most of the people were younger and came mainly because the services were only in English. The dedication of the Fort Rouge MB Church was held in 1959.

In 1963, the need for a larger building again became apparent, and so a new church building was constructed on Pembina Highway. Since it was located near the University of Manitoba, many students started attending the services. The church officially changed its name to Fort Garry MB Church. In the late seventies, the church was enlarged with a new educational wing, more office space, and a foyer.

The leaders were: Dave Nikkel (1959–1960), J. J. Toews (1960–1962), John M. Schmidt (1962–1963), John Wall (1963–1973), Hugo Jantz (1974–1977), Herb Kopp (1979–1984), Dan Unrau (1985–1991), Gordon Stewart (1992–1993), Calvin Bergen (1993–2002), V. George Shillington, interim (2002–2003), John Unger (2004–2013), Carl Heppner (2013– ).

The language of worship is English.

Scope and Content

This fond consists of information for a historical sketch, directories, church portrait books, weekly bulletins, minutes for the membership, and church council meetings, financial information, correspondence, study papers, and information from the Facilities Review Commission. These documents detail the congregation's ministry priorities and community outreach.

Custodial History

Some of the documents were microfilmed in 1979 through the work of the Historical Commission of the Mennonite Brethren Conference.

Notes

  • Volumes 481–482, 1336, 1342.
  • Formerly classified under the Canadian Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches inventory BC523.
  • Finding aid consists of a series description and a file list.
  • Finding aid for microfilm: R81, pp 230–2105; R82, pp 1–440.
  • Microfilm file list adapted from a previous finding aid by Leslie Wiebe June 2003. Updated by Conrad Stoesz August 22, 2011.
  • Related Material: Volume 1139 file 133. Articles by Leonard B. Siemens related to Fort Garry MB Church. -- 1965-2007.
  • Updated by Yvonne Snider-Nighswander, October 17, 2011. Updated by Kate Woltmann July 16, 2013. Updated by Emma Sorensen June 1, 2018. Updated by Kieran Schellenberg September 1, 2020. Updated by Hannah Tao, July 4, 2022.

Series Descriptions

I. Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church history.
1980, 1985, 1988, 2003.
0.15 cm of textual records and 13 pp (microfilm).

  • This series consists of information for a historical sketch and historical narratives.
  • Finding aid: Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church Vol. 481, file no. 1.
  • microfilm R81, pp 242–255.

II. Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church constitutions.
1962, 1967, 1977, 1980.
1 cm of textual records and 66 pp (microfilm).

  • This series consists of the church constitutions.
  • Finding aid: Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church Vol. 481, file no. 2.
  • microfilm R82, pp 85–151.

III. Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church membership and family records.
1955–1979.
0.25 cm of textual records and 41 pp (microfilm).

  • This series consists of the membership and family records.
  • Finding aid: Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church Vol. 481, file no. 3.
  • microfilm R81, pp 256–297.

IV. Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church pictorial portrait books.
1967?, 1971, 1980, 198?, 1996–1997, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017.
2 cm of textual records and 11 pp (microfilm).

  • This series consists of pictorial directory and portrait books, and telephone directories – 1967–2017 [some years missing].
  • Finding aid: Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church: Vol. 481, file no. 4; Vol. 482, file no. 43; Vol. 1336, file no. 12.
  • microfilm R81, pp 230–241.

V. Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins.
1973, 1978–1983, 1985, 1990, 1992–1998, 2005–2013, 2017–2022.
22.0 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of the weekly bulletins.
  • Finding aid: Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church: Vol. 481, file nos. 6–22; Vol. 482, file nos. 32-37, 39-42; Vol. 1336, file nos. 11-15; Vol. 1342, file nos. 5-6.

VI. Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church congregational minutes.
1955–1981, 2012, 2022.
2 cm of textual records and 675 pp (microfilm).

  • This series consists of the minutes from the membership meetings.
  • Finding aid: Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church: Vol. 481, file no. 23; Vol. 1336, file no. 12; Vol. 1342, file no. 7.
  • microfilm R81, pp 298–973.

VII. Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church council minutes.
1956–1981, 2012.
3 cm of textual records and 772 pp (microfilm).

  • This series consists of the minutes from the church council meetings.
  • Finding aid: Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church Vol. 481, file nos. 24–25.
  • microfilm R81, pp 974–1746.

VIII. Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church board of trustees.
1965–1966.
0.5 cm of textual records and 213 pp (microfilm).

  • This series consists of the minutes from the board of trustees and the financial reports.
  • Finding aid: Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church Vol. 481, file no. 26.
  • microfilm R81, pp 1754–1967.

IX. Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church Christian Education.
1960–1974.
377 pp; microfilm.

  • This series consists of the minutes from the Board of Christian Education, the Sunday School committee, the midweek Family Night executive, the Youth committee and an adult Sunday school discussion document.
  • Finding aid: microfilm R81, pp 1968–2105; R82, pp 1–84, 284–440.

X. Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church committees.
1955–1978, 2012.
164 pp; microfilm.

  • This series consists of the minutes from the coordinating committee, the music committee, the social committee, the Women’s Auxiliary groups, renovation committee and ministry impact.
  • Finding aid: microfilm R81, pp 1747–1753; R82, pp 152–283, 344–372.

XI. Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church facilities review commission.
1979–1981.
2.5 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of information and correspondence concerning the facilities review commission.
  • Finding aid: Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church Vol. 481, file no. 27.

XII. Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church study papers.
1980.
1 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of study papers concerning the Fort Garry MB Church, and an associate pastor.
  • Finding aid: Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church Vol. 481, file nos. 28–29.

File List

Volumes 481–482

  1. History. -- 1980, 1985, 1988, 2003.
  2. Constitutions. -- 1962, 1980.
  3. Members Accepted and Released. -- 1955–1958.
  4. Church Portrait Books. -- [1967?], 1980, [198?], [199?].
  5. Directories. -- 1967, 1971, 1996-1997.
  6. Bulletins. -- November 18, 1973
  7. Bulletins. -- June 18, 1978.
  8. Bulletins. -- 1979.
  9. Bulletins. -- 1980.
  10. Bulletins. -- 1981.
  11. Bulletins. -- 1982.
  12. Bulletins. -- 1983.
  13. Bulletins. -- 1985.
  14. Bulletins. -- 1990.
  15. Bulletins. -- 1991.
  16. Bulletins. -- 1992.
  17. Bulletins. -- 1993.
  18. Bulletins. -- 1994.
  19. Bulletins. -- 1995.
  20. Bulletins. -- 1996.
  21. Bulletins. -- 1997.
  22. Bulletins. -- 1998.
  23. Membership Minutes. -- 1979–1981.
  24. Council Meeting Minutes. -- 1978–1979.
  25. Council Meeting Minutes. -- 1980–1981.
  26. Financial Reports. -- 1979–1981.
  27. Facilities Review Commission. -- 1979–1981.
  28. Study Paper. -- 1980.
  29. Papers Re: Associate Pastor. -- 1980.
  30. Church directory. -- 1989.
  31. Constitution. -- 1989.
  32. Church bulletins. -- 2005.
  33. Church bulletins. -- 2006.
  34. Church bulletins. -- 2007.
  35. Church bulletins. -- 2008.
  36. Church bulletins. -- 2009.
  37. Church bulletins. -- 2010.
  38. Adult SS: The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit by Herb Kopp. - 1983.
  39. Church bulletins and telephone directory. -- 2011.
  40. Church bulletins. -- 2012.
  41. Reports from various committees and councils, nominations, pastoral search, membership questionnaire, baptisms, congregational meeting handouts. -- 2012.
  42. Church bulletins. -- 2013.
  43. Fort Garry MB Church Photo / Info Directory. -- 2014.

Volume 1336

  1. Church photo directories [plus telephone directories from 1997 to 2013 in box]. -- 2000, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017.
  2. Bulletins, meeting minutes, financial report, praise and prayer bulletin, ministry impact report, venture next door plan. -- 2017.
  3. Church bulletins. -- 2018.
  4. Church bulletins. -- 2019.
  5. Church bulletins. -- 2020.
  6. Baptism and membership classes. Student workbook. -- [198-?].
  7. Proposal for marriage enrichment program called 'Save the Marriage' project. -- 2013.
  8. Christmas reading based on 'Silent Night' carol. -- [199-].

Volume 1342

  1.  Fort Garry MB Church Bulletins. -- 2021.
  2. Fort Garry MB Church Bulletins. -- 2022.
  3. Fort Garry MB Church Report Book and Congregational Meeting Minutes. -- 2022.

Microfilm file list

Reel 81

  • Historical Data Clippings (Book I). – 1959–1974. – pp. 242–255.
  • Church Membership Register (Book II). – 1959–1979. – pp. 256a–297.
  • Church Membership Pictorial Directory (Book I). – Fall 1971. – pp. 230–241.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book IIII). – Dec.1955–Dec.1959. – pp. 298–554.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book IV). – Jan.1966–Dec.1973. – pp. 555–793.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book V). – Aug.1974–Nov.1978. – pp. 793a–973.
  •  Church Council Meeting Minutes (Book VI). – Sept.1956–Dec.1961. – pp. 974–1150
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes (Book VII). – Jan.1962–Dec.1965. – pp. 1151–1383
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes (Book VIII). – Jan.1966–Nov.1971. – pp. 1384–1564
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes (Book IX). – Jan.1972–Dec.1978. – pp. 1565–1746
  • Coordinating Committee Meeting Minutes (Book X). – Mar.1965–May1966. – pp. 1747–1753.
  • Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes (Book XI). – Jan.1961–Dec.1978. – pp. 1754–1967.
  • Board of Christian Education Minutes (Book XII). – Dec.1960–Dec.1974. – pp. 1968–2105.

Reel 82

  • Board of Christian Education Minutes continued (Book XII). – Dec.1960–Dec.1974. – pp. 1–84.
  • Sunday School Executive Minutes (Book XV). – Jan.1961–Oct.1977. – pp. 284–343.
  • Midweek (“Family Night”) Executive and Related Minutes (Book XVI). – Jan.1962–Nov.1978. – pp. 373–421.
  • Constitutions (Book XIII). – 1962, 1967, 1977. – pp. 85–151.
  • Young People’s Committee Minutes (Book XVI). – Jan.1960–Dec.1961. – pp. 422–440.
  • Music Committee Meeting Minutes (Book XVI). – Sept.1960–Feb.1978. – pp. 344–369.
  • Social Committee Meeting Minutes (Book XVI). – Mar.1964–Sept.1964. – pp. 370–372.
  • Women’s Auxiliary Groups Minutes (Book XIV). – Nov.1955–Apr.1973. – pp. 152–283.
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