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Westside Community Church – Morden, MB

Proper Title

Westside Community Church fonds

Dates of Creation

1930–2005, 2015

Physical Description

20 cm of textual records, one microfilm reel and one picture

Administrative History

Between the years 1923 and 1930 many Mennonites from Russia immigrated to Canada. Of these a few settled in Morden. Initially these families attended a local Lutheran Church since its services were conducted in German. In 1929, the Mennonites that were attending the Lutheran church in Morden decided to rent a hall in the town to hold their own services. They had midweek Bible and prayer meetings. In 1930, they became an organized congregation called Morden Mennonite Brethren Church. In 1933, they decided to buy a hall which was much more convenient. They spent thirteen years in that hall and then built a new church in 1946. They stayed in this building for 23 years. There was a youth program that rotated amongst the churches in the town. Each church was in charge of one service a week. Beginning in 1957, the church was able to go on the radio for five years, bringing a message and some singing to the people. A new church building was constructed in 1969. In 1993, the name changed to Westside Community Church. The leaders were:

D.D. Toews (1928–1929), Abe Friesen (1930–1932), F. H. Friesen (1933–1935), J. P. Braun (1935–1943), F. H. Friesen (1943–1965), William Falk (1965–1968), Victor Neufeld (1971–1978), George Braun (1979–1985), Russel Toews (1987–2006), Konrad Loewen (2006–2018), John Unger (interim 2018–2019), Gerald Dyck (2019– ).

The language of worship is English.  The transition from German occurred in the 1960s.

Scope and Content

This fonds consists of historical information, bulletins, membership and family registers, church business minutes, council minutes, and annual business minutes.

Notes

  • Volumes 431–432; Reel #134 p. 1-1693.
  • Finding aid consists of a file list.
  • Formerly classified under the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches inventory BC511.
  • Microfilm file list adapted from a previous finding aid by Leslie Wiebe June 2003.  Finding aid updated by Conrad Stoesz February 19, 2009. Updated by Emma Sorensen June 1, 2018.
  • Related material: Manitoba Mennonite Brethren Conference fonds, Moderator's files, box 1:17.
  • No restrictions on access.

File List

Volume 431

  1. Bulletins. -- 1968-1970.
  2. Bulletins. -- 1971-1972.
  3. Bulletins. -- 1973-1974.
  4. Bulletins. -- 1975.
  5. Bulletins. -- 1976.
  6. Bulletins. -- 1977.
  7. Bulletins. -- 1978.
  8. Bulletins. -- 1979.
  9. Bulletins. -- 1980.
  10. Bulletins. -- 1981.
  11. Bulletins. -- 1982.
  12. Bulletins. -- 1983.
  13. Bulletins. -- 1984.
  14. Bulletins. -- 1985.
  15. Bulletins. -- 1986.
  16. Bulletins. -- 1987.

Volume 432

  1. Morden MB Church History. -- 1935, 1979, 1985.
  2. Constitution. -- 1986.
  3. Church directories. -- 1982, 1989, 1993, 1998.
  4. Bulletins. -- 1996.
  5. Bulletins. -- 1997.
  6. Bulletins. -- 1998.
  7. Bulletins. -- 1999.
  8. Bulletins. -- 2000.
  9. Bulletins. -- 2001.
  10. Bulletins. -- 2002-2004.
  11. Bulletins. -- 2005.
  12. Praise & Prayer Bulletin. -- 2015.
  13. Proposed organizational manual. -- 2013.

Microfilm file list

Reel 134

  • Kurzer Ueberblick (Book I). – 1930–1954.
  • Historical Report (Book II). – 1946–1969.
  • Familienverzeichnis (Book I). – pp. 1–53.
  • Membership Register (Book II). – pp. 54–86.
  • Family Register (Book III). – pp. 87–119.
  • Membership Register (Book IV). – pp. 120–334.
  • Church Business Meetings, general (Book I). – Jan.12, 1930–May, 1960. – pp. 335–477.
  • Church Business Meetings, general (Book II). – Dec.13, 1960–Dec.5, 1968. – pp. 478–587.
  • Church Business Meetings, general (Book III). – Jan.3, 1969–Oct.23, 1974. – pp. 589–658.
  • Church Business Meetings, general (Book IV). – Mar.17, 1975–Sept.19, 1977. – pp. 659–685.
  • Church Business Meetings, general (Book V). – Mar.20, 1978–Dec.5, 1983. – pp. 686–813.
  • Church Council, german (Book I). – Jul.16, 1945–May 8, 1958. – pp. 814–893.
  • Church Council, german (Book II). – Sept.30, 1963–Oct.20, 1966. – pp. 895–927.
  • Church Council, English (Book III). – Jan.6, 1969–Nov.5, 1973. – pp. 928–985.
  • Church Council, English (Book IV). – Dec.5, 1977–Jan.9, 1978. – pp. 986–1078.
  • Church Council, English (Book V). – Jan.9, 1978–Nov.6, 1979. – pp. 1079–1136.
  • Church Council, English (Book VI). – Jan.15, 1980–Nov.10, 1981. – pp. 1138–1258.
  • Church Council, English (Book VII). – Jan.20, 1982–Dec.4, 1983. – pp. 1259–1358.
  • Annual Business Meeting Reports (Book I). – 1971–1983. – pp. 1359–1693.
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