Bethel Mennonite Church (Bothwell, ON)

Title: Bethel Mennonite Church (Bothwell, Ont.) fonds

Dates of creation: 1944-1967

Physical description: 4 cm of textual records

Administrative history: Located 2 miles (3 km) south of Hwy. 2 on the Kent-Elgin County line, about 40 miles (65 km) west of London, Ontario. Bethel Mennonite had been affiliated with the Mennonite Conference of Ontario since its formation. The language of worship was English. The congregation began services ca. 1870, and formally organized in 1875. Early families were Brubacher, Moyer, Snyder, Bergey, Woolner, King, McKay, Saylor, Devitt, and Cressman, who had come from Waterloo County and from the Niagara frontier.

In 1875 Henry McKay was called to the ministry here and served until 1902. In 1877 Abram B. Brubacher was ordained minister. By 1883 he inclined to the conservative group and moved to eastern Ohio. In 1907 Nathaniel Bergey was ordained minister. In 1905 under I. R. Shantz of Alberta the membership was strengthened.

Over the years services were held in Cashmere Schoolhouse, S.S. No. 5, Mosa, Austen School, Presbyterian church in Bothwell, in Clachan Hall. By 1934 the membership was reduced to eleven. In 1931 work was resumed as a Sunday school in the Austen school south of Bothwell. A few people from Waterloo County moved to the area, a a membership was built up from the new circle of families. Arnold Gingrich was ordained and became resident pastor. A new Bethel Church built a few miles south of Bothwelll in 1941. It was located 2 miles (3 km) south of Hwy. 2 on the Kent-Elgin County line, about 40 miles (65 km) west of London, Ontario. Minister Nelson Martin served in 1965 as the congregational leader. In 1953 there were 22 members; in 1965, 24.

The congregation dissolved in 1966. The group was also popularly known as Mosa Mennonite or Bothwell Mennonite.

Custodial history: Cashbook and minutes (Series 1, item 1) and programs (Series 2, item 1) were donated at unknown time. Remaining materials donated by Mary Austen and received from Barb Draper in 2022.

Notes: Original description created February 2002 by Sam Steiner and updated by Laureen Harder-Gissing in 2023

File list:

Series 1: Formal records

1. Cash book and minutes (Sunday School) of the Bothwell Mennonite Church, 1944-1967
2. Congregational meeting minutes, 1954-1956
3. Correspondence, 1955-1961
4. Record book, financial records (1944-1956) and meeting minutes (1949-1951)

Series 2: Informal records

1. Miscellaneous programs
2. Newsclipping, Woodlands Mission Farm, 1953