Classification scheme:
III-38
Title: Danforth Mennonite Church fonds
Dates of creation: 1899-2024
Physical description: 184 cm of textual records
Administrative history: The congregation, located at 2174 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, has been affiliated with the Mennonite Conference of Ontario (1907-1988), Mennonite Church (1907-1999), Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (1988-) and Mennonite Church Canada (1999-). Danforth was the only Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada congregation to decline membership in the Conference of Mennonites in Canada in 1995. The language of worship is English.
The congregation began services in 1910, and formally organized in 1958. The first building was occupied in 1910, with a subsequent building program in 1995. John I. Byler and M. Elizabeth Brown are considered the founding leaders of the group. The congregation originated through outreach by the Mennonite Conference of Ontario as part of its first urban mission. Danforth merged with Morningside Mennonite Church in 1973. For a time it was known as Danforth Morningside Mennonite Church.
Custodial history: The Danforth congregation has made periodic donations to the Mennonite Archives of Ontario. The Louida Bauman scrapbook was donated to the Mennonite Archives of Ontario by Muriel Purdon in December 2004. A significant accrual was received from the congregation in 2025.
Scope and content: There are four series: Formal records, Informal records, Church bulletins and Newsletter
Notes: Significant early records of Danforth are found in the Mennonite Mission Board of Ontario fonds, Series 1: City Mission Board, II-3.1
For further information see: Bill Bryson, "The history of the Toronto Mission - now the Danforth Mennonite Church from 1907 to 2009 " (2010)
For photographs related to this congregation search the Mennonite Archival Image Database.
For sound recordings related to this congregation, see Hist.Mss.9.25.
Further materials related to this congregation may be found by searching the Archives.
An encyclopedia entry for this congregation may be found in GAMEO.
Archival description created 2002 by Sam Steiner.
File list:
Series 1: Formal records
- Annual Reports and Congregational Meeting minutes
1962-1969 (reports are for activities in previous year)
1970-1992 (Oct. congregational meeting only),1993-2024 - Church Council minutes
1961-1972 (January)
1975-1999 (Incomplete)
2000-2014, 2016-2024 - Other Administrative minutes
2010-2011 - Financial reports
Cash journal, 1929-1931
Cheque distribution record, 1932-1938
Church & Sunday School Offering Register, 1931-1938
Offering notebook (Harold Groh), 1931-1937
Value of "In Kind" Donations of Food & Clothing, 1934-1946
Bankbook (Harold Groh), 1935-1945
Monthly Donation lists, 1938-1945
Monthly Reports to Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, 1938-1945
Tables Outlining Giving by Congregation, 1939-1944, 1951
Cash journal, 1961
Cash journal, 1962
Financial report, 1946, 1953, 1955, 1957-1960, 1962
Church & Sunday School Offering Register, 1951-1954
Church & Sunday School Offering Register, 1955-1957
Church & Sunday School Offering Register, 1958-1960 - Women's groups
Cheerful Endeavor Sewing Circle
Minutes, 1945-1958
Minutes, 1959-1971
Financial records, 1946-1956
WMSA executive, 1969/70 - Young People's Meeting records
Minutes & Financial Records, 1950-1954
Treasurer's records, 1951-1955 - Sunday School records
Attendance, 1920-1939/40
Minutes, 1931-1946; attendance, 1930-1947
Home Department records, 1946-1947
Attendance, 1945-1948
Attendance, 1948-1951
Attendance, 1953-1958
Attendance, 1959-1961
Class books, 1944/45-1955/56, 1957/58
Annual reports to Conference, 1922-1959 (Incomplete)
Sunday School officers, 1970/71
Cradle Roll cards, 1940-1942
Sunday School prize lists, 1921-1969 - Church directories
n.d., 1968/69, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986-1987, 1991-1999
2000-2002, 2004-2014, 2017-2022 - Boys/Girls Club records
Wayfarers/Busy Bee Club attendance books, 1958-1968
Misc. Wayfarers records, 1960s
Kidsnite/Kidklub, Aug-Dec 2000 - Summer Bible School
Attendance records, 1934-1965 (incomplete)
Advertising and Programs, 1940s-1960s - O'Connor Community Association
Materials related to Amzie Brubacher's work with community association, 1970s
Outreach work in the O'Connor community, 1980-1985 - Worship committee
Minutes, 2010-2024 - Outreach Committee
Minutes, 1979, 1981-1982, 1984-1994 (scattered), 1995-2005 (incomplete)
Personnel Policies (related to Outreach), 1999-2003
Reports, 1983-1991, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2003
Seniors Drop-In Program, 1980-1991, 1995-2004 - Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS) Unit records
Minutes, 2002-2010
Blank application documents
Blank volunteer evaluation forms
Correspondence
Job Descriptions & Potential agencies for placement
Volunteers
Residential lease, 2003
Grant applications, 2003
Publicity - Membership certificates and letters
Toronto Mission, 1930-1946 - Building renovations, 1959, 1961, 1984-1993
- Decision making
Congregational covenant, [1984?]
Mission statement, 1986
Memo on consensus process, [1987?]
Committee on Decision Making, 1991
Discernment conversations, 2004-2005 - Deeds and land transfers
- Conflict Managment Committee, 1995-1998
- Facilities use
Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church, 1979, 1989, 2001
MCC TOOLS program, 1995
Series 2: Informal records
- Pastor's record book, 1929-1931 (Lewis Weber)
- Correspondence, 1961-63, 1979, 1993-1994, 1998, [2002?]
Interim/Pastoral search process, 1995-1998 - Christmas cheer lists, 1964-1978
- Junior High Socials, n.d.
- Programs, 1913-
- News Clippings, 1925-
- Historical manuscripts, most associated with 50th anniversary of congregation in 1961, including reflections by S. Honderich, Paul Burkholder, Henry Chapman, and list of persons invited to anniversary
First Report of Mennonite Mission, 1907
"History of Danforth WMSA," n.d.
"The origins and development of the Toronto Mennonite Mission: women were key players, but won few medals" by Ferne Burkhardt, ca. 1992.
"Brief history of mission work & Danforth Mennonite Church," 1999, 2004?
"Fact sheet about Toronto Mennonite Churches," [ca. 1970]
"Faith, Hope, and Charity: A History of the Toronto Mennonite Mission and Danforth Mennonite Church" by Bill Bryson, 2001
"The Toronto Mission" by L.J. Burkholder, 1935
"Studies in Mennonite City Missions" by Alta Mae Erb, 1937
"Mennonite Gospel Mission", Harold Groh report, 1940-1941
"Growth of Toronto Churches" by Emerson McDowell, [1960?]
"Resource Material for History of Danforth Mennonite Mission/Mennonite Church", [20--?]
"Profile of Danforth-Morningside Mennonite Church", 1984
"A Brief History of Danforth-Morningside Church" by Muriel Purdon, 1984
"An Early History of Danforth Mennonite Church" by Bill Bryson, [2001?]
"History of Community Involvement", [19--?]
Account by Susanne Gunther, 2006
Timelines - Louida Bauman Scrapbook given by members at Danforth when she left the Toronto Mission in June 1947.
- Manuscripts associated with 100th anniversary of congregation in 2011
"The Mennonite Gospel Mission / Danforth Morningside Mennonite Church" by Bill Bryson
Various reflections by Muriel Purdon - Publicity brochures, including material on 1994 building project
- Vistation notes kept by Danforth outreach workers, 1988-2003 (restricted)
Note: Unrestricted correspondence re the acquisition of these files by the Archives is located with the files - 70th Anniversary, 1981
- History research by Bill Bryson, predominantly 2000-2001
1. Project background note, 2025
2. Interview with Helen Brenneman, 2001
3. Interviews relating to Sam and Ruth Brownsberger, 1949, 1985, 2000, 2011
Note: Includes interviews with Ron Brownsberger and Jim Brownsberger (2000), additional correspondence and historical notes
4. Correspondence and biographical articles regarding John I. and Amanda Byler, 1982, 1989, 2002, 2005
5. Notes on Frank Crandell and Eva Crandell, [2002?]
6. Interview with Harold and Edna Evans, 2000
7. Interviews regarding the Agnes and Ernest Ford family, 2001-2003
Note: Interview with Ada Ford and Bill Bartlett, interview with Ed Ford, interview with Agnes Ford Billideau
8. Interview with Gerry Frey, 2000
9. Interview with Mary Groh, 2001
Note: Includes further recollections by Mary Groh and the farewell program for Harold and Cora Groh, 1945
10. Notes regarding Samuel Honderich
11. Interview with Steve Guyatt, 2001
12. Interview with Gwen Lees, 2000
13. Interview with Carson Moyer, 2000
14. Recollections by Wilfrid Rudy
15. Interview and recollections of Muriel and George Purdon, 1981, 1996
16. Interview with Paul Martin and Amzie Brubacher, 2001
17. Notes on Vi Godfrey, Doreen Wilkinson, Ellen Stolzfus
18. Interview with John Hess, 2001
19. Interview with Doris and Amzie Brubacher, 2001
20. Miscellaneous notes
Note: Includes excerpts from Lewis J. Burkholder diaries, demographic information from the 1980s and 1990s
Series 3: Church Bulletins
Special Event Bulletins
1958-1996, September 1997, 2011-2023
Series 4: Newsletters
The Shepherd's Voice: Mennonite Mission Bulletin, 1952-1954
Danforth Dabbler, Summer 1995, December 1995, May 1996
DMC Outlook, 2016-2024
Danforth Mennonite Chronicle, April 1999
The 2174 Builder, Dec 1992-1993 (Incomplete)