Erb Street Mennonite Church (Waterloo, ON)

Classification scheme:

III-26

Title: Erb Street Mennonite Church fonds

Dates of creation: 1852-2018
Note: Further accruals are expected

Physical description: 175 cm of textual records

Administrative history: The congregation has been affiliated with the Mennonite Conference of Ontario and Quebec (1851-1988), the Mennonite Church (1898-), the Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada (1988-) and Mennonite Church Canada (1995-). The language of worship transitioned from German to English in the early twentieth century. The congregation began services in 1837, and formally organized in 1851. The first building was occupied in 1851, with subsequent building programs in 1902, 1950 and 1980. David Eby is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through immigration from Pennsylvania. The early settlers included David Eby, Jonas Bingeman and Samuel Schantz.

Pastoral Leaders who served the David Eby/Erb Street Mennonite congregation, have included: Jacob M. Oberholtzer (1840-1879), Elias Schneider (1874-1889), Jonas Snider (1892, Bishop, 1895-1944), Noah Hunsberger (1900-1920, 1923-1929), Newton S. Weber (1921-1923), Jesse B. Martin (1929, Bishop 1947-1964), Milton Schwartzentruber (1964-1970), Galen Johns (1970-1976), (Doug Snyder, Interim, 1977), Wilmer Martin (1977-1991), Richard Yordy (Interim, 1992/1993), Renee Sauder (1993-2003), Allan Rudy-Froese (-2004), Laurence Martin (Interim, (2003-2004), Eleanor Epp-Stobbe (2004-2014), Sandi Hannigan (2004-2007), Matthew Bailey Dick (2005-2007), Tanya Dyck Steinmann, Interim (2007-2008), Gord Alton (2008-2011), Jenny Csinos (Interim)(2012-2013), Glenda Ribey Rozomiak (2013- ), Gary Knarr (Intentional Interim (2014-2016), Jodie Boyer Hatlem (2016- ), Doug Johnson Hatlem (2016- )

In 1900 there were 100 members; in 1925, 165; in 1950, 290; in 1965, 298; in 1975, 269; in 1985, 292; in 1995, 321; in 2000, 314. Two long-serving deacons were Noah Weber (1908-1948) and Clare Shantz (1948-1980).

Custodial history: The Erb Street congregation has made periodic donations to the Mennonite Archives of Ontario.

Scope and content: There are five series: Formal records, Informal records, Books, Church bulletins and Newsletters.

Notes: See also the Worship Services listing in Sound Recordings for Erb Street-related services.
For further information see: Albert and Greta Hunsberger, A brief history of the David Eby Church and Erb Street Mennonite at Waterloo, Ontario from 1851-1976 (The Church, 1976); L.J. Burkholder, A brief history of the Mennonites in Ontario (1935), 95-98.
For cemetery records, see Waterloo Cty. - Waterloo Twp. Erb Street Mennonite Church, Hist.Mss.5B.106.
Archival description originally created in 2001 by Sam Steiner.

File list:

Series 1: Formal records

2008-2013

Deeds, legal documents
1902 Deed
Assessment notices, 1910, 1912
Mennonite Aid Union evaluation, 1979
Congregational constitutions
1963, 1968, 1972, 1979, 1986, 1987, 1996, 2010
Congregational meeting reports/minutes
1889-1915 (Book; Includes financial records)
1916-1937 (Book; Includes financial records)
1938-1963 (Book; Includes financial records, cemetery accounts and Board of Trustee minutes (1950-1969)
1934-1936, 1938-1940
1941-1948 (Financial reports only)
1950-1965, 1967-1982, 1984-1990, 1998-2018
Church Council/Church Ministry Council
1951-1958 (Book)
1958-1968 (Book)
1968-1970 (Book)
1951-1973 (typed copies - Deacon E. Clare Shantz file)
1968-1983
1997, 1999-2007, 2008-2018
Trustee Board/Board of Property/Property and Facilities
See congregational minutes above for 1950-1969.
Meeting book with actions on building a new church building, with expenses, 1901-1903
Minutes, 1961-1963, 1973-1978, 1997, 1999-2015
Board of Christian Education/Christian Education & Formation Ministry
1960-1964, 1970-2017
Board of Missions and Service/Christian Witness Ministry/Peace and Justice Ministry
1971-1978
1981-1991 (file mostly concerns sponsorship of refugees from Laos)
1997-2017
Board of Elders
1972-1978
Documents, 1999-2003, 2005, 2006
Stewardship & Finance
Minutes, 1976-1977, 2004-2016
General Expense account books, 1948-1965
Offering record book, 1945-1960
Personnel Committee
1971-1972, 1974-1978
Pastoral Committee
1969-1977
Worship Committee/Christian Worship and the Arts Ministry
1993-2001, 2004-2017
Long Range Planning
1992, 1994
Building Committees
1949-1951 (includes record of donations)
1949-1951 (blueprints)
1970-1980 (misc. minutes of facilities committee)
1998-2000
Young People's Bible Society/Mennonite Youth Fellowship
Constitution, n.d.
Record book, 1945-1953, 1952-1972, 1972-1977
Program book, 1955-1965
Financial records, 1952-1969
Member's list, 1968/69
Cemetery Committee
Cash book, 1942-1960
Burial contract and regulations
Sunday School
Constitution, n.d.
Reorganization meetings, 1931-1957; 1957-1975
Sunday School Executive, 1955-1969; 1969-1979
Attendance books, 1931, 1934, 1960
Annual Attendance records, 1958-1979
Cash book, 1929, 1957-1973
Financial pledges and lists of teachers, 1929-1969 (incomplete)
"My attendance record and reward" sheet (colour photocopy)
Waterloo Charity Circle minute and record book
1908-1916
Junior Charity Circle minute and record book
1916-1925
1925-1932
1932-1937
1937-1941
1941-1944
1944-1951
1951-1967
Senior Charity Circle minute and record books
1917-1927
1927-1935
1936-1938, 1942-1947
1938-1942 (treasurer records, 1936-1946)
1948-1952 (plus attendance book, 1948-1953); copy of constitution; treasurer records, 1946-1954)
1954-1977 (financial records)
1952-1958
1958-1963
1964-1968
1968-1973 (records and correspondence)
1974-1981 (records and correspondence)
Cheerful Sunshine Band minute books
1940-1944
1945-1957
1957-1976
1940-1976 (financial)
Evening Group/Beacon Mission Circle minute and record books
1946-1950
1950-1956
1950-1963 (Financial)
1958-1973
1967-1983 (Financial)
1975-1983
Women's Missionary and Service Commission (WMSC) minutes and records
1981-1993
1994-2013
102nd anniversary celebration, 20 Apr 2010 Note: Includes 8 photographs.
Sewing Circle Joint Executive/Planning Meeting/Council
1955-1983
Food Service menus and notes
1950s-1989
Girl's Club record book
1976-1979
Membership records
1909-1937 (with notes on missions offerings included)
1937-1944 (with notes on missions offerings included)
1926-1994 (typed lists of yearly membership changes)
Lists, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1976
Cards, 1940s-1970s
Church letters of transfer (1930s-1940s)
Church directories
1971, 1978
1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
1990, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001,
2005-2019 (also 2006 & 2013 photo directory)
Library Committee
Library records, 1955-1960, 1972, 1998-2005, 2009-2010
Ministerial Search Committee
1991-1993 (selected minutes)
Congregational Information Form/Congregational Profile
1976, 2004, 2007/08, 2015
Unused
Adult Sunday School
Outlines for "Family Life Series" (1988) and "Human Sexuality in the Christian Life (1985-1986)
Adult Fellowship, 1962-1973

Return to Top

Series 2: Informal records

Historical Memorabilia
- Baptism and cradle role lists, 1930-1960 (J.B. Martin), 1940-1990
- Deacon Noah Weber biographical notes, membership notes in Weber's hand
- List of converts at D. Eby Church, C. Eby Church, Bridgeport Church, n.d. (J.B. Martin)
- List of members, converts, 1910 (J.B. Martin)
- Correspondence, etc. re: Lewis S. Weber, 1940 (J.B. Martin)
- Noah Weber on obligation of church to deacon, 1948 (at Clare Shantz ordination)
- Recognition of Noah Weber's 90th birthday, 1958 (J.B. Martin)
- Correspondence re: deacon ordination, 1943, 1948
- Funeral record slips, 1950s-1960s; Funeral cards for Clinton Shantz (d. 1918), Gordon Schweitzer (d. 1912), Leah (Groff) Shantz (d. 1924), Ada (Eby) Shantz (d. 1918), Franklin Shantz (d. 1929)
- Certificate of ordinations, Clare Shantz, 1948 (plus letter of resignation, 1980)
- J.B. Martin retirement sermon text, 1964; materials related to Martin's retirement
- Letter from Conference at time of Jonas Snider's death, 1944
- Short biographical note on Jacob Oberholtzer, 1976
- Notes on history of Erb. Street congregation, 1952 (including Noah Weber, Eli Hallman, Joseph S. Weber, Moses Hunsberger and Albert Hunsberger)
- Background of Boy's Club, 1960
- 60th anniversary of WMSC (1968); includes photograph of "Fresh Air" children at the home of Enoch Erb and a manuscript books with 1908 "rules and regulations" of the Charity Circle as well as later notes on the history of the Waterloo WMSC.
- 10th and 25th anniversaries of Laotian families in Canada, 1990, 2005
- A Brief History of the David Eby Church and Erb Street Mennonite at Waterloo, Ontario from 1851-1976
- Path of a People: Erb Street Mennonite Church 1851-2001 / Karl Kessler, 2001
- Correspondence and photographs re the "Signature Quilt" presented to Galen and Edith Johns in 1976, 2009-2010
- the Eby-Snider House : some historical background on the occasion of the unveiling of the heritage plaque, 22 Nov 2009
- "Certificate of honor in behalf of the orphans of India" from the Home and Foreign Relief Commission and Orphan Relief Association of India to the David Eby Sunday School, 1898. - Located in oversize cabinet.
Correspondence, including "Pastoral letters" 1964-1975
Questionnaires used in the congregation, 1960s
Programs and brochures, 1903-
Summer Bible School programs and announcements, 1950s
Letters sent to men in C.O. camps, 1942-1944
Sermon texts sent to men in C.O. camps, 1942-1944
News clippings
"Erb Street Mennonite Church Research Project," by Mark Fischer, et al, 1998 - Grade 12 project that included survey of worship and Christian Ed hour.
Print Blocks
Erb Street building (1902); David Eby Church (Drawing)
150^th anniversary
Programs, tickets, bulletins associated with anniversary
Manna Program Photo Scrapbook
Volunteer Service for Seniors News and Views, 1989-1993
Documents related to Volunteer Service for Seniors / Project H.E.A.R. Program, 1979-1993.
160^th anniversary
Minutes, programs, trivia game, anniversary cantata news clipping
Note: Recordings of cantata located in Hist.Mss.9.25 Worship services.
K-W Christian Ministry to the CJS [Criminal Justice System] meeting, 17 Apr 1978

Return to Top

Series 3: Books

Of the Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis (London : Castell Brothers, n.d.) "Jacob E. Groff, Jan. 1891 Waterloo, Ont." on flyleaf

Jubeltöne : eine Sammlung von Liedern und Melodien aus deutschen und englischen Quellen zum Gebrauch für Sonntagschulen und den Familienkreis. 6. verm. u. verb. Aufl. (Cleveland, Ohio : W.F. Schneider, 1871) "These kind of song books were used in the Sunday School, which was first started in a vacant house formerly owned by William Bamberger, May 29th, 1887. Later the Sunday School was held in the schoolhouse S. Section 21, which was called the Martin's School. Some years later, the S. School was held at the David Eby's church, and later the church at Waterloo was built, in 1902, and now have Sunday School all the year summer and winter. Mrs. Ira S. Bauman" on flyleaf

Return to Top