Accession 2007.045, 2008.031, 2009.001 (all filed with 2007.045), 2024.001
Title and Physical Description
First Mennonite Church (Calgary) fonds. — 1980-2011. — 22 cm of textual records. — 5 electronic files (PDF)
Administrative/Biographical History
Prior to the formation of any Mennonite church in Calgary, young Mennonite women were successfully moving to Calgary and finding work as domestic staff. Their spiritual welfare was made the concern of ministers who were passing through Calgary and by the 1930s Peter B. Epp and his wife opened their home up as a meeting place and Maedchenheim. The First Mennonite Church officially began in 1945 in the former Scarboro United Church building on 17th Avenue SW in Calgary. J.J. Sawatzky was requested to move to Calgary to get the congregation started. At inception, there were 27 signed members in the record book. Apart from urbanizing Alberta Mennonites, it became the receiving congregation for the immigrants arriving from Germany after the Second World War. It originally served a few member couples who had moved to Calgary, but also the single women who moved into the city. In September 1957 sod was turned at 2600 Richmond Road for a new church home and by March 1958 it was dedicated under its new name First Mennonite Church, Calgary. In 1946, meetings were attended by all members and all had voting privileges. However in the early 1950s this was rescinded and only men conducted the affairs of the church. It was not until 1975, that Brotherhood meetings became Congregational meetings and women regained the vote. In 1963-64 a large number of members separated to join the emerging North Hill Mission (later became the Foothills Mennonite Church). In 1965 Jacob Wiebe became the first paid minister. Over the years the church swung between being English-only and equally operating in English and German.
Custodial History
The records were donated to the MHSA by church members
Scope & Content
The fonds consists of four series: A) Governance, B) Membership, C) Worship, D) Newsletters, and E) History
Variations in Title Proper
Also known as Scarborough Mennonite Church fonds
Source of Acquisition
Gift from Alfred Janz and Irene (nee Epp) Klassen. Electronic files retrieved from congregational website
Access Restrictions
Access to personal information in fonds is subject to MHSA privacy policy and relevant legislation
Finding Aids
See Files Inventory
Associated Materials
Associated records may be found at the Mennonite Heritage Centre, Winnipeg
Related Materials
For published works related to the fonds, see:
- Dick, C.L. (1980). Conference of Mennonites in Alberta History. Calgary: Conference of Mennonites in Alberta.
- Klassen, Irene. (2007). “Mennonite beginnings in Calgary”, in MHSA Newsletter X: 1 & 2.
Accruals
Expected
Notes
Accession 2007.045, 2008.031, 2009.001
Electronic files retrieved from First Mennonite Church website 24 Feb 2011
Last updated 24 Feb 2011 – Judith Rempel
Revised May 2012
A. Governance. — 1980-2002. — 10 cm textual records
The series consists of minutes, records in support of projects or events. Arranged by date
1 – 1 Minutes, Records, etc. – 1980 1982
1 – 2 Minutes, Records, etc. – 1983 1985
1 – 3 Annual General Meeting Reports – 1983
1 – 4 Annual General Meeting Reports – 1983
1 – 5 Minutes, Records, etc. – 1986 1988
1 – 6 Minutes, Records, etc. – 1991
1 – 7 Minutes, Records, etc. – 1992
1 – 8 Minutes, Records, etc. – 1993
1 – 9 Minutes, Records, etc. – 1994
1 – 10 Minutes, Records, etc. – 1995
1 – 11 Minutes, Records, etc. – 1996
1 – 12 Minutes, Records, etc. – 1997
1 – 13 Minutes, Records, etc. – 1998
1 – 14 Minutes, Records, etc. – 1999
1 – 15 Minutes, Records, etc. – 2000
1 – 16 Minutes, Records, etc. – 2002
B. Membership. — 1997-2007. — 1 cm textual records
The series consists of membership directories. Arranged by date
1 – 17 Directories 1996-2007
C. Worship. — 2004-2011. — 9 cm textual records. — 5 electronic files (PDF)
The series consists of bulletins for the congregation’s worship services. Arranged by date
1 – 18 Bulletins – 2002
1 – 19 Bulletins – 2003
1 – 20 Bulletins – 2004
1 – 21 Bulletins – 2005
2 – 22 Bulletins – 2006
2 – 23 Bulletins – 2007
2 – 24 Bulletins – 2008
2 – 25 Bulletins – 2009
2 – 26 Bulletins – 2010
2 – 28 Bulletins – 2011
D. Newsletters. — 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005. — 1 cm textual records
The series consists of minutes, records in support of projects or events. Arranged by date
2 – 27 News from First Mennonite – 2001-2011, with several gaps.
E. History. — 1966-2006. — 1 cm of textual records
The series consists of an historical compilation.
2 – 29 First Mennonite Church Calgary : a brief history / by Irene Klassen. — 1966-2006. — Includes 4 photos. Includes membership lists (1966).
Accession 2024.001 Helping Hands, Women in Mission. – 1971-2013
The series consists of files containing minutes, correspondence and financial statements of the First Mennonite Church, Calgary, Helping Hands, Women in Mission,which were donated by Eleanor Janz who served for many years as the secretary and/or treasurer of the society. Also included are attendance and financial legers which provide detailed information about the various projects which were supported by the society.
1-1 Helping Hands, Women in Mission, Minute book, 1971-1976
1-2 Helping Hands, Women in Mission, Minutes, Correspondence and financial statements, 1977-1982.
1-3 Helping Hands, Women in Mission, Minutes, Correspondence and financial statements, 1983-1988.
1-4 Helping Hands, Women in Mission, Minutes, Correspondence and financial statements, 1989-1995.
1-5 Helping Hands, Women in Mission, Minutes, Correspondence and fianncial statements, 1996-1999.
1-6 Helping Hands, Women in Mission, Minutes, Correspondence and financial statements, 2000-2006.
1-7 Helping Hands, Women in Mission, Minutes, Correspondence and financial statements, 2007-2010.
1-8 Helping Hands, Women in Mission, Minutes, Correspondence and financial statements, 2011-2013.
1-9 Helping Hands, Women in Mission, Attendance and financial leger, 1964-1970.
1-10 Helping Hands, Women in Mission, Attendance and financial leger, 1971-1986.
1-11 Helping Hands, Women in Mission, Attendance and financial leger, 1987-2006.
1-12 Helping Hands, Women in Mission, Bank Ledger, 1960-1985.
2-13 Helping Hands, Women in Mission, Bank Ledger, 1986-2001.
2-14 Helping Hands, Women in Mission, Bank Ledger, 2002-2013.