Crossway Elm Creek – Elm Creek, MB
Proper Title
Crossway Elm Creek fonds
Dates of Creation
1925–1980, 1990, 2005, 2007–2009, 2013-2015
Physical Description
5.5 cm of textual records and 1 microfilm reel
Administrative History
In 1926, there were 30 Mennonite families from Russia living in the Elm Creek, Culross, and Barnsley districts of Manitoba. The families represented three denominations including Evangelical Mennonite, Mennonite General Conference, and the Mennonite Brethren. Jacob Loewen served as leader at this time. In 1929, a group of 23 people became an affiliated of the Winkler MB Church.
In 1931, they officially organized as the Elm Creek MB Church. The group met in local schools and because of the difficulties of not having their own building, the congregation decided to build their own church. Many people moved to Elm Creek from Saskatchewan, and, in 1944, the building was enlarged and a basement was added. In 1950, a larger church was built, and, in 1964, an extension was added. In 1978, a fellowship hall was built along side the church. Through the years, the church was able to keep an active youth group and choir.
In 2021, the church changed its name to Crossway Elm Creek.
The leaders of the church included: H. J. Wiebe (1931–1936), J. G. Wiens (1937–1946), H. H. Enns (1947–1953), J. G. Wiens (1954–1959), N. J. Dyck (1960–1963), Jacob W. Kroeker (1964–1972), J. P. Neufeld (1973), Elvin Penner (1974–1975), Neil Funk (1978–1983), John Balzer (1985–1987), Harold Reimer (1989–1990), John Willems (1992–2007), Noel Hudson (2007–2011), Jason Dyck (2011–2019), Konrad Loewen (2020–2023), Scott Isaak (2023– ).
The language of worship is English. The transition from German occurred in the 1960s.
Scope and Content
This fonds consists of membership records, minutes from the congregational and council meetings, youth committee program outlines, historical sketches, church bulletins and one letter.
Custodial History
Some of the textual records were microfilmed in 1978 through the work of the Historical Commission of the Mennonite Brethren Conference.
Notes
- Volume 419.
- Formerly classified under the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches inventory BC505.
- Finding aid consists of a series description and a file list.
- Finding aid for microfilm: R85, pp. 137–1618.
- Described by Bert Friesen, updated by Conrad Stoesz May 12, 2009, updated by Yvonne Snider-Nighswander October 12, 2011. Updated by Emma Sorensen June 1, 2018.
- Microfilm file list adapted from a previous finding aid by Leslie Wiebe June 2003.
Series Descriptions
I. Elm Creek Mennonite Brethren Church membership records.
1925–1979.
186 pp.; microfilm.
- This series consists of three family registers microfilmed in 1979.
- Finding aid: microfilm R85, pp 146–331.
II. Elm Creek Mennonite Brethren Church congregational meetings.
1929–1975.
1070 pp.; microfilm.
- This series consists of the minutes of membership meetings.
- Finding aid: microfilm R85, pp. 332–1041.
III. Elm Creek Mennonite Brethren Church council meetings.
1947–1961, 1972–1975.
140 pp; microfilm.
- This series consists of the minutes of church council meetings.
- Finding aid: microfilm R85, pp 1405–1541.
IV. Elm Creek Mennonite Brethren Church Jugendverein.
1932–1954.
56 pp; microfilm.
- This series consists of program outlines for the youth program.
- Finding aid: microfilm R85, pp 1542–1618.
V. Elm Creek Mennonite Brethren Church history.
1937?, 1966, ca. 1970, ca. 1978, 1980.
0.5 cm of textual records and 8 pp (microfilm).
- This series consists of some historical sketches (some written by Neil Funk), a 50th Anniversary publication of the congregation’s history including pictures dating from 1929-ca. 1979, and two pictures of the Elm Creek Mennonite Brethren Church taken around the year 1970 and 1985.
- Finding aid: Elm Creek Mennonite Brethren Church file list no. 1
- microfilm R85, pp 137–145.
VI. Elm Creek Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins.
1990, 2004, 2005, 2007–2009.
5 cm of textual records.
- This series consists of church bulletins and directories.
- Finding aid: Elm Creek Mennonite Brethren Church file list nos. 2–13.
File List
Volume 419
- Elm Creek MB Church History. -- 1937–1980.
- MB Church of Elm Creek Bulletins. -- November 11, 1990.
- Church Directory. -- 1978.
- Church Directory. -- 1988.
- Constitution. -- 1977.
- Church bulletins. -- 2005.
- Elm Creek MB Church annual reports and annual financial meeting minutes. -- 2008.
- Church bulletins. -- 2007.
- Church bulletins. -- 2008.
- Church bulletins. -- 2009.
- Baptism and commissioning photos. Includes sermon outline from 2011. -- 2013.
- Baptism photo. -- 2014.
- Baptism, Praise and Prayer Bulletin. -- 2015.
- Choir director Kornelius Kroeker's (1890–1960) collection of sheet music for church choir. -- [194-?].
- Choir director Kornelius Kroeker's (1890–1960) scribbler of choir music with Ziffern notation. -- [194-?].
Microfilm file list
Reel 85
- Historical Data: brief summaries (Book I). – ca.1925–1977. – pp. 137–145.
- Family Register (Book IV). – ca.1925–1979. – pp. 279–331.
- Membership, Family and Marriage Registers (Book III). – ca.1929–1979. – pp. 197–278.
- Membership, Family and Marriage Registers (Book II). – ca.1933–1975. – pp. 146–196.
- Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book V). – Mar.1929–Dec.1947. – pp. 332–461.
- Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book VI). – May 1948–June 1956. – pp. 462–649.
- Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book VII). – Aug.1956–Dec.1962. – pp. 650–837.
- Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book VIII). – Feb.1963–Dec.1967. – pp. 838–1083.
- Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book IX). – Jan.1968–Dec.1971. – pp. 1084–1241.
- Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book X) – Jan.1972–Dec.1975. – pp. 1242–1401.
- Church Council Meeting Minutes (Book XI). – Feb.1947–Oct.2, 1961. – pp. 1402–1474.
- Church Council Meeting Minutes (Book XI). – Mar.1972–Dec.1975. – pp. 1475–1541.
- Youth Committee Meeting, Program Outlines (Book XII). – May 1932–Dec.1954. – pp. 1542–1618.