← Back to Institutional Records

Meadow Brook Fellowship – Leamington, ON

Proper Title

Meadow Brook Fellowship fonds

Dates of Creation

1931–2011

Physical Description

43 cm of textual records and 1 microfilm reel

Administrative History

The Meadow Brook Fellowship was first known as the Leamington Mennonite Brethren church, which held its first membership meeting on 18 January 1931. Among the first Mennonites to arrive in the Leamington, Ontario, area were the families of Heinrich and Nicolai Schmidt. Heinrich was a member of the Mennonite Brethren church. Realizing the need for spiritual fellowship, as they had experienced in Russia, the new arrivals met for worship in private homes regardless of Mennonite denominational affiliation. These services in German were often held without ministers being present. Isaac Tiessen, who had been an Evangelical Mennonite Brethren minister in Lichtfelde, Russia arrived and was asked to serve the new group. In 1931, participants from the Mennonite Brethren and the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren background, encouraged by the ministers from Kitchener, gathered under Isaac Tiessen's leadership and affiliated with the Molotschna Mennonite Brethren church of Kitchener.

On 28 August 1932, the new group joined the Ontario Mennonite Brethren Conference and met in Brown’s Hotel and Watson’s store. As the Leamington Mennonite membership increased, the vision emerged to build a sanctuary. Since the United Mennonites and Mennonite Brethren followed different theological persuasions, and since the Kitchener (Molotschna) Mennonite Brethren church and its affiliated congregations had developed a plan to form a conference, sixteen Mennonite Brethren members in Leamington decided, on 2 October 1932, to form a separate congregation. A delegation composed of Isaac Tiessen, Franz Bartel, and Heinrich Koop presented the decision to Elder N.N. Driedger on 9 October 1932.

The increase in Leamington MB's membership led to the purchase of land and then building of a church. On 11 June 1939, the membership delegated the brethren, Gerhard Dick, Frank Bartel, and Gerhard Willms to purchase property on Elliot Street. An addition was built in 1958, but the property was subsequently sold. The present church was completed in 1965 and expanded in 1979 with a gymnasium and education wing and expanded again in 2003.

The Leamington Mennonite Brethren congregation's earliest activities centered on its internal spiritual needs through evangelistic meetings, Bible conferences, Jugend Verein and choirs. As time went on, this expanded to include a radio ministry for ten years, a Daily Vacation Bible School, Bible clubs, and boys' and girls' clubs. The church has actively supported local food banks and the distribution of clothing through thrift outlets.

The congregation has also been engaged in expansion of its ministry. In 2003, Laotian immigrants, sponsored by neighbouring churches and individual families, worshiped in the facilities as a separate congregation. A youth pastor has helped to start the South Point Community Church in Leamington.

For a time, two Sunday morning services were held with slightly different worship styles, but by 2003, this had returned to one service. Baptisms, which were once held in Lake Erie, are now conducted in the church baptistry. Worship services for the seniors in the Leamington Mennonite Home and other retirement homes are regularly provided. Isaac Tiessen, who was ordained in 1935, became the first salaried pastor. Services were held in German until the 1950s, when the transition to English began.

The congregation changed their name to Meadow Brook Fellowship in 2004.

In 1942 the membership stood at 115, and in 1959 at 164. In 1980, the membership stood at 194, and in 2000 at 246. In 2015, membership was 233.

The church was served by Rev. A. Huebert and Rev. Isaac Tiessen (1931–1958), David D. Derksen (1948–1958), Henry Warkentin (1959–1964), Abe J. Konrad (1964–1974), Art Willms (1975–1981), Albert Baerg (1981–1987), John Nikkel (1987–1993), Henry Regier (1994–2007), Greg Allen (2007–2014), Chris Walker (2014– ).

Scope and Content

This fonds consists of materials created by the Leamington Mennonite Brethren church, which consists of minutes of the church council, Board of Deacons, Board of Elders, membership, and spiritual concerns committees, annual reports, directories and, bulletins.

Custodial History

The material was created and collected by the Leamington Mennonite Brethren church, who then donated the materials to the Centre at various times.

Notes

  • Locaton: Volumes 537–539, 1251a, microfilm: R78, pp. 1–2130, formerly classified as Bd-502.
  • Described by Conrad Stoesz November 7, 2000; updates by Bert Friesen October 9, 2001, and Conrad Stoesz February 6, 2003, September 19, 2005, January 31, 2006, April 17, 2007, Sep 10, 2012. Microfilm file list adapted from a previous finding aid by Leslie Wiebe June 2003.
  • Accession nos. 2000-058, 2002-057, 2003-006, 2004-017, 2005-026, 2007-15, 2012-07.
  • Finding aid consists of a file list.
  • Related materials: see Isaac Tiessen fonds.
  • Language: English and German.
  • Some restriction on access apply.

Series Descriptions

I. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church Directories.
1971–2000, 2005.
1 cm of textural records.

  • This series consists of congregational address and telephone directories.
  • Location of textual records: Volume 537:1, volume 539:20.

II. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church history.
ca.1971-2003.
2 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of a congregational historical sketches and various statistics.
  • Location of textual records: Volume 537:3; 539:5,8,9.

III. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church minutes.
1931–1949, 1952–1999, 2002.
14 cm of textual records and 2097 pp.; microfilm.

  • This series consists of congregational church council meeting minutes (1952–1995), congregational meeting minutes (1931–1949, 1975–1999).
  • Location of textual records: Volume 537:4–12; 538:1,10,11; 539:6,10.

IV. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church Spiritual Leadership Team meeting minutes.
1985–1987.
0.4 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of congregational Spiritual leadership team meeting minutes.
  • Location of textual records: Volume 538:2.

V. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church Spiritual Concerns Committee meeting minutes.
1987–1996.
1 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of congregational Spiritual Concerns Committee meeting minutes.
  • Location of textual records: Volume 538:3–4.

VI. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church Board of Elders meeting minutes.
1996–2002, 2004.
2 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of congregational Board of Elders meeting minutes (1996–1999).
  • Location of textual records: Volume 538:5; 539:7,11,14.

VII. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church Board of Deacons meeting minutes.
2002, 2004.
1 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of minutes of Board of Deacons meetings where pastoral care of congregational members is dealt with.
  • Location of textual records: Volume 538:12,16.

VIII. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church Annual meeting reports.
1963–1969, 1972–1988, 1993–2000, 2004.
7 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of congregational annual meeting reports. Near the end of 2004 are Meadow Brook Fellowship congregational meeting minutes.
  • Location of textual records: Volume 538:6–10,15.

IX. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins.
1968–1976, 1994.
8 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of congregational bulletins.
  • Location of textual records: Volume 537:1,2; 539:1–4.

X. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church membership registers.
1924–1928, 1980–2011.
7 cm of textual records and 31 pp of microfilm.

  • This series consists of 4 registers, the first being an early record of the church recording vital statistics.
  • Location of textual records: Volume 539:12–13, 1251a.

XI. Meadow Brook Fellowship materials.
2004–2006.
2 cm of textual records.

  • This series consists of materials such as letters patent and by-laws, board of elders minutes, reports and phone directory.
  • Location of textual records: Volume 539:17–22.

File List

Volume 537

  1. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church Directory. -- 1971, 1973, 1990, 1993, 1997.
  2. Church bulletins. -- 1994.
  3. Historical sketch survey. -- [ca. 1985].
  4. Church council meeting minutes. -- 1964–1968.
  5. Church council meeting minutes. -- 1968–1972.
  6. Church council meeting minutes. -- 1972–1981.
  7. Church council meeting minutes. -- 1982–1984.
  8. Church council meeting minutes. -- 1985–1989.
  9. Church council meeting minutes. -- 1990–1995.
  10. Church membership meetings. -- 1975–1979.
  11. Church membership meetings. -- 1980–1983.
  12. Church membership meetings. -- 1984–1989.

Volume 538

  1. Church membership meetings. -- 1990–1999.
  2. Spiritual leadership team minutes. -- 1985–1987.
  3. Spiritual concerns committee. -- 1987–1989.
  4. Spiritual concerns committee. -- 1990–1996.
  5. Restructuring and Board of elders. -- 1996–1999.
  6. Church annual reports. -- 1963–1969.
  7. Church annual reports. -- 1972–1980.
  8. Church annual reports. -- 1981–1988.
  9. Church annual reports. -- 1993–1999.
  10. Church annual reports, congregational membership meeting minutes, and Board of Elders meeting minutes. -- 2000.
  11. Board of Elders minutes. -- 2002.
  12. Board of Deacons minutes. -- 2002.
  13. Annual church membership meeting minutes. -- 2002.

Volume 539

  1. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1968–1970.
  2. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1971–1972.
  3. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1973–1974.
  4. Leamington Mennonite Brethren Church bulletins. -- 1975–1976.
  5. Memories of the beginning of the Leamington MB Church/ Isaac Tiessen. -- [197-?].
  6. Leamington MB Church membership meeting minutes. -- 2001.
  7. Leamington MB Church board of elders minutes. -- 2001.
  8. Statistics, baptisms, marriages, and deaths at the Leamington MB Church. -- 1982.
  9. Statistical reports from annual reports including baptisms and church membership. -- 1971–2003.
  10. Membership meeting minutes. -- 2003.
  11. Board of Elders meeting minutes. -- 2003.
  12. Current members. -- 1980–2004.
  13. Former members. -- 1980–2004.
  14. Leamington MB Church board of elders minutes. -- 2004.
  15. Leamington MB Church congregational meeting minutes. -- 2004.
  16. Leamington MB Church board of deacons minutes. -- 2004.
  17. Meadow Brook Fellowship letters patent and by-laws. -- 2005.
  18. Meadow Brook Fellowship Annual reports. -- 2004–2006.
  19. Meadow Brook Fellowship board of Elders meeting minutes. -- 2004–2006.
  20. Meadow Brook Fellowship phone directory. -- 2005–2006.
  21. Meadow Brook Fellowship annual membership meeting minutes. -- 2005–2006.
  22. Meadow Brook Fellowship Deacons meeting minutes. -- 2006.
  23. Meadow Brook Fellowship 2007 documents including: pictorial/telephone directory, Board of Elders minutes, Membership meeting minutes and annual reports. -- 2007.

Volume 1251a
1. Meadow Brook Fellowship membership records. -- 2005–2011.

Microfilm file list

Reel 78

  • Family Register, early period only (Book XI). -- 1924–1928. – pp.  2098–2130.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book I). -- Jan. 1931–June 1939. – pp. 1–219.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book II). -- Nov. 1939–Oct. 1943. – pp. 220–439.
  • Congregational Meeting Minutes (Book III). -- Jan. 1944–Oct. 1949. – pp. 440–707.
  • Congregational And Council Meeting Minutes (Book IV). -- Oct. 1952–Sept. 1957. – pp. 708–916.
  • Congregational And Council Meeting Minutes (Book V). -- Oct. 1957–Oct. 1962. – pp. 917–1137.
  • Congregational And Council Meeting Minutes (Book VI). -- Oct. 1962–Oct. 1965. – pp. 1138–1324.
  • Congregational And Council Meeting Minutes (Book VII). -- Oct. 1965–Oct. 1968. – pp. 1325–1582.
  • Congregational And Council Meeting Minutes (Book VIII). -- Oct. 1968–Oct. 1972. – pp. 1583–1804.
  • Congregational And Council Meeting Minutes (Book IX). -- Oct. 1972–Oct. 1975. – pp. 1805–1975.
  • MB Congregational And Council Meeting Minutes (Book X). -- Oct. 1975–Apr. 1978. – pp. 1976–2097.
← Back to Institutional Records