Christian Fellowship Chapel – Orillia, ON
Proper Title
Christian Fellowship Chapel fonds
Dates of Creation
1953–2014, 2015-2021
Physical Description
14 cm of textual records, digital bulletins and newsletters
Administrative History
The Christian Fellowship Chapel in Orillia, Ontario, has it roots in a group that left the local United Church to fellowship together in 1944. They became known as the Evangelical Fellowship until 1951 and met in rented facilities and homes in the Hampshire Mills area. In 1948, the group acquired a property on a member's farm with a farm house on it. This building was converted into a meeting house under the leadership of the MB Home Missions that made contact with this Evangelical Fellowship. The group, in 1951, then became known as the Christian Fellowship Chapel. They were from United Church, Anglican, Alliance, Baptist, Brethren, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and other church backgrounds and all of British heritage. There was encouragement to have teachers from MB churches in Ontario begin their careers in the area. These people helped in church programmes and became the nucleus of a radio ministry that was continued into the 1960s.
In 1961, the congregation was officially was organized as an MB congregation with 20 charter members. In 1963, a parsonage was built nearby the meeting house. There were 26 members in 1967. In 1972, a larger meeting house was completed and the original meeting house became an education wing and was only torn down in 1993.
In 1980, the membership stood at 62 and 68 in 1990. In 1994, they celebrated their 50th anniversary with many former leaders of the congregation present. There were 87 members in 2000.
The leaders of the congregation were: Henry Dick (1951–1954), John Epp (1954–1957), Herman Kroeker (1957–1967), Peter Klassen (1967–1981), Phil Hamm (1981–1984), Robert Roswell (1984–1988), George Peck (1988–1989), John Block (1990–1998), Robert Duncan (1999), Roger Thiessen (2000–2002), Andrew Barton (2005–2009), Peter Dennison (2009–2019), Jay Lafontaine (2020– ).
Scope and Content
This fonds consists of an historical sketch ([197-?]), a newspaper clipping (1953), a photograph of the meeting house ([198-?]), a brief congregational history (1985), a history booklet (1985), 50th anniversary booklet (1994), congregational directories (1974, 1994, 2009), congregational bulletins (1967, 1969–2021), and annual reports (2001–2008).
Custodial History
Records were transferred to the Centre for MB Studies archives in Winnipeg, Manitoba at various times.
Notes
- Location: Volumes 556, 1342.
- Digital records located on the CMBS server "Electronic collections/Provinces/Ontario/Christian Fellowship Chapel."
- Finding aid consists of a series description and a file list.
- Formerly classified under the Canadian Conference of MB Churches inventory BD-509.
- Described by Bert Friesen October 15, 2001; updated by Conrad stoesz March 1, 2005, April 18, 2006, April 17, 2007, Feb. 19, 2009; updated by Yvonne Snider-Nighswander November 2, 2011; updated by Kate Woltmann May 31 & July 18, 2013.
- Accession numbers 2007-14.
- No restrictions on access.
Series Descriptions
I. Christian Fellowship Chapel historical sketch.
[197-?].
0.1 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of an historical sketch of the congregation ([197-?]).
II. Christian Fellowship Chapel history.
1953–1985.
0.2 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of a newspaper clipping of the original chapel dedication (1953), a photograph of the meeting house ([198-?]), a brief congregational history (1985), a history booklet (1985), Church Membership Handbook [1990].
III. Christian Fellowship Chapel 50th anniversary book.
1994.
0.3 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of two copies of the 50th anniversary history book of the congregation.
IV. Christian Fellowship Chapel directories.
1974, 1994, 2009.
0.3 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of congregational address and telephone directories.
V. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins.
1967, 1969–1970, 1973–1980, 1985, 1988, 1991–1992, 1997, 2000, 2004–2021.
13.5 cm of textual records and digital records.
- This series consists of congregational bulletins.
File List
Volume 556
1. Christian Fellowship Chapel historical sketch. -- [197–?].
2. Christian Fellowship Chapel history. -- 1953–1985.
3. Christian Fellowship Chapel 50th anniversary book. -- 1994.
4. Christian Fellowship Chapel directories. -- 1974, 1994.
5. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. -- 1967, 1969.
6. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. -- 1970.
7. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. -- 1973.
8. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. --1974.
9. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. -- 1975.
10. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. --1976.
11. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. -- 1977.
12. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. -- 1978.
13. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. -- 1979.
14. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. -- 1980.
15. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins and Church Membership Handbook. --1985, 1988, 1991–1992.
16. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. --1997, 2000.
17. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. -- 2004.
18. Christian Fellowship Chapel year book and annual reports. -- 2001, 2003–2007.
19. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. -- 2005.
20. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. -- 2006.
21. Christian Fellowship Chapel yearbook. -- 2008.
22. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. -- 2007.
23. Christian Fellowship Chapel bulletins. -- 2008.
Volume 1342
1. Christian Fellowship Chapel Bulletins; Church Directory. -- 2009.
2. Christian Fellowship Chapel Bulletins. -- 2010.
3. Christian Fellowship Chapel Bulletins. -- 2011.
4. Christian Fellowship Chapel Bulletins. -- 2012.
- Bulletins and Newsletters. -- 2012. Incomplete.
- Bulletins and Newsletters. -- 2013. Incomplete.
- Bulletins and Newsletters. -- 2015.
- Bulletins and Newsletters. -- 2016.
- Bulletins and Newsletters. -- 2017.
- Bulletins and Newsletters. -- 2018.
- Bulletins and Newsletters. -- 2019.
- Bulletins and Newsletters. -- 2020.
- Bulletins and Newsletters. -- 2021.