Administrative History

Early Mennonite settlers in the Clearbrook area were concerned about their spiritual development. Even before Mennonite Brethren churches had begun in the area, settlers gathered every Sunday in each other’s homes for worship services. Soon numerous Mennonite churches sprang up in the area. The North Abbotsford Mennonite Brethren Church was one of these, with services beginning in 1935, formally organized in 1937. In February 1939, the Municipality of Matsqui donated one and one-half acres of land to the congregation. A building project started that fall, with a dedication service held on October 27, 1940. A Sunday school building was constructed soon after. After 1957, the North Abbotsford congregation was renamed the Clearbrook MB Church.

From the early years, Clearbrook MB dedicated itself to outreach and mission work. In 1960, the congregation initiated the construction of a chapel at Lake Errock. Shortly thereafter, the chapel developed into the Lake Errock Mennonite Brethren Church (1963). The congregation’s outreach work also helped spark its own growth, and by 1947, membership stood at 393. In 1947, 103 members from the congregation left to start a daughter church named the East Aldergrove Mennonite Brethren Church. Even after this division, Clearbrook MB continued to grow.

After extending the building twice, in order to accommodate its growing membership, the congregation decided to build a completely new structure. Construction began in 1956, and the completed building was dedicated on April 14, 1957. Since then, several other additions and aesthetic changes have taken place, including modifications to the front entrance, and the construction of an educational wing, with office, Sunday school, and kitchen space.

Bakerview Mennonite Brethren Church also has its roots in the Clearbook congregation. In the beginning of 1965, Clearbrook MB had over 700 members, and overcrowding became an issue yet again. Following East Aldergrove’s example, 102 members left Clearbrook MB to form the Bakerview church. Even after this division, Clearbrook’s membership remained high. In the years that followed, it continued to gain many members who moved into Clearbrook for retirement.

In 2015, the church had a membership of 287 and an average weekly attendance of 383.

Gerhard Rempel is seen as founding leader, serving the church from 1936 to 1937. The following ministers and pastors served the congregation in subsequent years as leading ministers: Gerhard H. Doerksen (1937–1938), C.C. Peters (1938–1943), Jacob Derksen (1944–1951), A.A. Toews (1951–1954),  Abe Konrad (1954-1960), Henry H. Janzen (1962–1964, first salaried pastor), Henry G. Thielmann (1964–1967), Herman Lenzmann (1968–1976), John G. Baerg (1976–1982), John E. Klassen (1983–1991), Jacob Pauls (1992–1999), Peter J. Klassen (2000), Heinz Ratzlaff (2002–2008), Walter Wiens (2008–2010), Ron Berg (2010–2016), Harry Loewen (2017–2018), Scott Tolhurst (2019– ).

Language of worship is English and German.