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Grace Community Church – Herbert, SK

Proper Title

Grace Community Church fonds

Dates of Creation

1909–2005

Physical Description

100 cm of textual records and microfilm

Administrative History

In 2015, Grace Community Church became the name for the Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church, located in the town of Herbert in southern Saskatchewan, first organized in 1905, the same year Herbert was incorporated as a town. Jacob J. Martens led an initial membership of 68 consisting primarily of pioneers from southern Russia and the United States. The church was part of the Herbert Kreis or Southern Saskatchewan District.

Early settlers met for worship in homes and then a one-room school house. Because two different conferences were represented at first, services were conducted alternately by members of the General Conference of Mennonites and the Mennonite Brethren. In short order, they moved into a church building and began to expand their ministry.

Leaders and pastors of Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church (now Grace Community) have been: J.J. Martens (1905–1911), H.A. Neufeld (1912–1925, 1928–1929), William Bestvater (1926–1927), J. Schellenberg (1930, 1932), J.P. Wiebe (1931, 1934–1940), Frank Janzen (1933), H. Regehr (1941), Isaac Epp (the first salaried minister, 1942–1947), Dan Wiebe (1948–1949), Alfred Kroeker (1950–1951), Edward Lautermilch (1952), R. Janzen (1953–1957), C. Braun (1958), Nick Janz (1959–1962), Herman Voth (1963–1970), Jacob Pauls (1971–1985), Robert Yssennagge (1986–1988), Gene White (1989–1994), Ed Schmidt (1995–2002), interim Henry Dueck (2001–2002), Bob Capelle (2003–2009), interim Gary MacKay (2010–2012), Kirk Ehrhart (2012–2014), Lydon Epp (2015–2018), interim Tim Stabell (2019– ).

In 2000, church membership was 207, and in 2010, 138.

Scope and Content

This fonds consists of the following series: Historical notes, minutes, correspondence, legal documents, financial records, annual reports, Jugendverein, library, senior citizens’ home, membership records, statistics, and early documents.

Custodial History

Many of the records were microfilmed in 1978 through the work of the Historical Commission of the Mennonite Brethren Conference. The 1993 report on the Herbert Senior Citizens Home was acquired as part of Acc. #1999-066. The rest of the textual records were acquired as part of Acc. #1999-058.

Notes

  • Volumes 585–589, 607–609.
  • Accession numbers are 1999-066 and 1999-058.
  • Formerly classified under the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches inventory BF502.
  • Finding aid consists of a series description and a file list.
  • Finding aid for microfilm: R42–43.
  • Microfilm file list adapted from a previous finding aid by Leslie Wiebe June 2003.
  • Updated by Kate Woltmann, July 2014.

Series Descriptions

I. Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church historical notes.
1978–1980
2 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of notes made presumably at the time of microfilming. They were inserted at the beginning of some of the minute books and family record books. They list key people, events, and discussions with the corresponding page numbers and dates.
  • Finding aid: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church fonds file list no. 1.

II. Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church minutes.
1909–1989.
24 cm of textual records and 1355 pp. microfilm.

  • This series consists of minutes of the Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church annual meetings, congregational meetings, business meetings, church council meetings, and executive meeting minutes. The microfilmed records of the congregational meetings and church council meetings contain numerous duplicates. There is some uncertainty as to the naming and identity of some of the minutes. The original also contain some duplicates.
  • Finding aid: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church fonds file list no. 2–17.
  • Finding aid for microfilm: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church, R42 pp. 509–1451, 2202–2404, and R43 1–211.
  • See also Vol. 608.

III. Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church correspondence.
1957–1978, 1957 predominant.
0.25 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of letters to and from Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church, including a 1975 letter from the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches concerning excommunication and the place of women in ministry.
  • Finding aid: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church fonds file list no. 18.

IV. Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church legal documents.
[196-]–[197-].
0.25 cm of textual records and 5 pp. microfilm.

  • This series consists of the Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church constitution, election procedures for various church offices, church regulations, and the delineation of the responsibilities of the elected persons. Breaches of church regulations are included in the file marked “Church Discipline”, which contains several examples of excommunication.
  • Finding aid: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church fonds file list no. 19–20.
  • Finding aid for microfilm: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church R42, pp. 810–814.

V. Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church financial records.
1908–1961.
9 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of financial information. Account books, cash books and other ledger books are included.
  • Finding aid: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church fonds file list no. 21–28.
  • See also Vol. 607.

VI. Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church annual reports.
1977–1981, 1983–1996, 1998–1999.
7 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of reports of the various boards, departments, and committees of the Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church at the annual congregational meeting. The agendum of the annual meeting and financial information are also present.
  • Finding aid: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church fonds file list no. 29–33.

VII. Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church Jugendverein.
1915–1973.
9 cm of textual records and 749 pp. microfilm.

  • This series consists of minutes from the Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church Jugendverein (Christian Endeavor), a financial record book from the same group and a collection of youth newsletters 1954–1955. The Jugendverein constitution is located at the beginning of file no.35. Except for the financial record book and the newsletters the series is available on microfilm.
  • Finding aid: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church fonds file list no. 34–40.
  • Finding aid for microfilm: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church R42, pp. 1452–2201.

VIII. Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church library.
1947, 1956–1957.
0.25 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of 1947 categorized listing of the holdings of the Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church library and two reports (1956 and 1957) from the church librarian.
  • Finding aid: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church fonds file list no. 41.

IX. Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church Herbert senior citizens home.
1965, 1993.
0.5 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of minutes of the Herbert invalid home board meeting from 1965 and a 1993 synopsis of the past, present and future of the home.
  • Finding aid: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church fonds file list no. 42.

X. Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church membership records.
1915–1984, 1990, 1993.
25 cm of textual records and 549 pp. microfilm.

  • This series consists of Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church family and membership records, baptismal and transfer records, a 1957 member address list, and a 1984, 1990 and 1993 church directory.
  • Finding aid: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church fonds file list no. 43–48.
  • Finding aid for microfilm: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church, R42 pp. 212–761.
  • See also Vol. 609.

XI. Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church statistics.
1938, 1956–1957.
0.25 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of three Statiscticher Bericht[e] für die Canadische Konferenz der Mennoniten Brüdergemeinde.
  • Finding aid: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church fonds file list no. 49.

XII. Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church early documents.
1909–[192-].
0.25 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of an envelope containing documents from the early year of the church, including canceled cheques and small notes.
  • Finding aid: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church fonds file list no. 50.

File List

Volume 585–589

1. Historical notes. 1978?; 75th anniversary book: Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church, 1905–1980. -- [1978]–1980.
2. empty.
3. Congregational Minutes. -- 1909–1915.
4. Congregational Minutes. -- 1915–1930.
5. Congregational Minutes. -- 1930–1941.
6. Congregational Minutes. -- 1941–1945.
7. Congregational and Council Minutes. -- 1947, 1949–1955.
8. Congregational Minutes. -- 1956–1963.
9. Business Meeting Minutes. -- 1954, 1958–1972.
10. Business Meeting Minutes. -- 1973–1978.
11. Annual Meeting Minutes. -- 1956–1978.
12. Church Council Minutes. -- 1956–1970.
12a. Church Council Minutes. -- 1955–1958.
13. Church Council Minutes. -- 1971–1975.
14. Executive Meeting Minutes. -- 1986–1989.
15. Mixed Minutes. -- 1956–1957.
16. Mixed Minutes. -- 1944–1945.
17. Church business and annual meeting minutes. -- 1986–1989.
18. Correspondence. -- 1957–78, 1957 predominant.
19. Church Constitution, Structure and Regulations. -- [196-]–[197-].
20. Church Discipline. -- 1960–1961.
21. Account Book. -- 1908–1913.
22. Account Book. -- 1937–1956.
23. Sunday Collections. -- 1941–1959.
24. Sunday School Collections. -- 1947–1955.
25. empty.
26. Church Building Fund Records. -- 1956–1958.
27. Miscellaneous Financial. -- 1956–1959.
28. Account Book. -- 1957–1961.
29. Annual Reports. -- 1972–1976.
30. Annual Reports. -- 1977–1981.
31. Annual Reports. -- 1983–1987.
32. Annual Reports. -- 1988–1994.
33. Annual Reports. -- 1995–1996, 1998–1999.
34. Jugendverein Minutes. -- 1915–1921.
35. Jugendverein Minutes. -- 1922–1928.
36. Jugendverein Minutes. -- 1939–1948.
37. Jugendverein Minutes. -- 1948–1958.
38. Jugendverein Minutes.  -- 1958–1973.
39. Treasury Book. -- 1943–1963.
40. Youth Newsletters. -- n.d.
41. Library Holdings and Reports. -- 1947, 1956–1957.
42. Herbert Senior Citizens Home. -- 1965, 1993.
43. Membership and Family Record. -- [191-]–[193-].
44. Membership and Family Record. -- [193-]–[195- ].
45. Membership and Family Record. -- [195-]–[196-].
46. Membership and Family Record. -- [192-].
47. Baptismal and Transfer Records. -- 1953–1979.
48. Member List and Church Directory. -- 1957, 1984, 1990, 1993.
49. Annual Statistics. -- 1938, 1956–1957.
50. Early Documents of the Herbert Mennonite Brethren Church. -- 1909–[192-].
51. Herbert MB Church historical documents. -- 1986–1999.
52. Church bulletins. -- 1968.
53. Church bulletins. -- 1969.
54. Church bulletins. -- 1981.
55. Church bulletins. -- 1985.
56. Church bulletins. -- 1986.
57. Church bulletins. -- 1987.
58. Church bulletins. -- 1988.
59. Church bulletins. -- 1993.
60. Church bulletins. -- 1994.
61. Baptism photo. -- 2008.
62. Herbert MB Church: Celebrating 100 years, 1905–2005. Anniversary book. -- 2005.

Volume 607

Financial ledger. -- 1953–1959.

Volume 608

Congregational meeting minutes. -- 1909–1945.

Volume 609

Church membership register. -- 1905–1930.


Microfilm file list

Reel 42

  • Church Constitution. -- [19--]. – p.810–814.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. -- Jan.1915–Jan.1930. – p.509–694.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. -- Jan.1930–Dec.1941. – p.695–809.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes with a few Church Council Minutes. -- Apr.1941–Apr.1945. – p.815–892.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. -- May 1947–Nov.1955 (missing 1948). – p.893–1022.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. -- Mar.1956–Nov.1963. – p.1023–1277.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. -- Jan.1964–Apr.1972. – p.1278–1394.
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes. -- Nov.1955–Jan.1958. – p.1395–1451.
  • Church Council Meeting Minutes. -- Nov.1958–Dec.1973. – p.2202–2404.
  • Jugendverein. -- 1915–1919. – p.1452–1568.
  • Jugendverein. -- 1922–1928. – p.1569–1751.
  • Christian Endeavor. -- 1939–1948. – p.1752–1949.
  • Christian Endeavor. -- 1948–1958. – p.1950–2120.
  • Christian Endeavor. -- 1958–1973. – p.2121–2201.

Reel 43

  • Family Register (Book I). -- ca.1915–1936. – p.212–364.
  • Membership and Family Register (Book II). -- [193-]–1949. – p.365–470 (+150).
  • Membership and Family Register (Book III). -- ca.1945–1965. – p.471–579 (+109).
  • Membership and Family Register (Book IV&V). -- [196-]–[197-]. – p.580–761 (+160).
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes. -- June 1972–Nov.1975. – p.1–211.
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