Title: First Mennonite Church fonds
Administrative history: This church was named First Mennonite in 1917. Prior to that time it was known as Eby's, Benjamin Eby's, Christian Eby's, Berlin and East End. It is located at 800 King St. E., Kitchener, Ontario N2G 2M6. Worship services were held in a log schoolhouse on the South-East corner of the adjoining cemetery grounds as early as 1811. In 1834 a substantial frame church and the log schoolhouse was moved to Breslau where it was used for both school and worship purposes. The frame meetinghouse was replaced with a brick edifice in 1902, which was enlarged in 1927, 1950 and 1985.
First Mennonite was the administrative centre of Mennonite churches in the Waterloo district until about 1956 when it adopted a congregational polity. Waterloo district ministers' conferences were held here twice annually and Ontario ministers' conferences were held here every third year for many years. The Ontario Mennonite Bible School was conducted annually at First Mennonite from 1920 to 1969.
Scope and content: There are four series: Formal Records, Informal Records, Newsletter and Church bulletins.
Notes:
For photographs related to this congregation search the Mennonite Archival Image Database.
For sound recordings related to this congregation see, see Hist.Mss.9.25.
An encyclopedia entry for this congregation may be found in GAMEO
For further reference see J. Boyd Cressman. "First Mennonite Church, Kitchener." Mennonite Quarterly Review, 13(1939), 159-86, 251-83; and E. Reginald Good. Frontier Community to Urban Congregation: First Mennonite Church, Kitchener 1813-1988. Kitchener: First Mennonite Church, 1988.
File list:
Series 1: Formal records
Box 1.1 - Deacons, Cemetery Records, etc.
- Deeds and Mortgages
- Budgets 1963/64-66/67, 70/71-74/75
- Deacon Books 1876-1911, 1911-1939, 1938-1940 (plus summaries for 1941-1948)
- Deacon Books 1944-1949 and 1949-1957
- Cemetery Account Books 1926-1943 and 1943-1950
Cemetery Contract Books 1942-1943, 1944-1945 and 1945-1947
Cemetery Receipt Book 1950
Loose Cemetery Receipt
- Record of Offerings 1912-1949, 1934-1949 and 1949-1953
- Record Books of Stewardship Canvasses Promoting Planned Giving 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960
- Stewardship Canvass Records 1960, 1962, 1963 and 1965 (unbound)
- Stewardship Canvass Training Manuals and Promotional Materials
- Young People's Account Books 1916-1932, 1944-1947 and 1948-1954
- Treasurer's Book 1975-1976
- Liability Insurance Policy 1981-1982
- Deacon Book 1941-1951 (unbound)
- Deacon Book 1954-1960 (unbound)
- Treasurer's Miscellaneous Financial Records 1948-1963
- Sunday School Account Books 1942-1947, 1955-1957
- D.B. Betzner's Account of Pastoral Support for Bishop Derstine, 1925-1928
- Financial statements, 1997-1999
Box 1.2 (long wide flat box) - Oversize Records
- Ladies Aid Accounts 1969
- Ladies Aid Accounts 1970
- Ladies Aid Accounts 1971
- Treasurer's Accounts 1959-1963
- Treasurer's Accounts 1966-1967
- Treasurer's Accounts 1967-1968
- Treasurer's Accounts 1970-1971
- Treasurer's Accounts 1973-1974
- Treasurer's Accounts 1974-1975
- George Wright Estate Records
- Material Specifications for 1927 Church Addition
- Correspondence re: 1950 Church Addition
- Correspondence re: 1985 Church Addition
Box 1.3 - Congregational Meetings, Directories, etc.
- Printed Programs 1893-1960
- Annual Financial Statements 1930-1931, 1940-1945
- Proposed Budgets 1956-1961
- Church Polity 1944
- Church Constitution 1957
- Church Constitutions
1965, 1995, 2004, 2014
- Sunday School Constitution 1959
- Library Reports
- Congregational Meeting Minutes 1892 (photocopy)
- Congregational Meeting Minute Book 1903-1918
- Congregational Meeting Minute Book 1925-1937
- Congregational Meeting Minute Book 1938-1942
- Special Business Meeting Minute Book 1919-1952
- Stewardship Board Financial Statements 1953 and 1956
- Congregational Meeting Minutes 1935, 1938-1944, 1958
- Cemetery Plot Record Books
- Cemetery Correspondence
- C.F. Derstine's Marriage Register 1925-1949
- Merle Shantz's and John H. Hess's Marriage Register, 1940-1957
- C.F. Derstine's Record Book of Members and Adherents
- List of Funerals Officiated by Edgar Metzler
- Membership Book 1914-1950
- Membership Book 1950-2015
- E.S. Hallman Record Book, includes lists of confessions, baptisms and funerals (pp.180-196)
- Sunday School Record Book 1944-1959
- Letters of Membership Transfer 1959-1962
- Membership Lists/Directories
1895-1970 (some photocopies from other sources)
1973-1992, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2011-2018
- Pictorial directories, 1974, 1982, 1988, 1992, 1995/96, 1999/00, 2003, 2018
- Formal documents
"On Christian Marriage," 1998
"Clarification of Membership Terminology," 1998
"Congregational Plan for strengthening our integrated model," 1999
- First Mennonite Sector Plan, 1985-1988
- Renewal Journey = Jornada de Renovacion, 2009-2010
Box 1.4 - Church Council, etc.
- Trustee Board Minute Book 1944-1946
- Congregational minutes book,1946-1960; includes appendix of Building Committee Minutes 1949-1950
- Stewardship Board Minutes 1961-1962
- Stewardship Board Minutes
1964-1984
2001-2003
- Council of Boards Minutes 1958 (incomplete)
- Council of Boards Minutes 1960-1961
- Council of Boards Minutes 1965, 1967-2000
- Church Council Minutes 1962-1972
- Church Council Minutes 1973-1976
- Church Council Minutes 1976-1977
- Church Council Minutes 1977-1978
- Church Council Minutes 1978-1979
- Church Council Minutes 1979-1980
- Church Council Minutes
1980-1981 1982-1988
2002-2009, 2011, 2017-2018
- Church Council Chair's File 1972-1974
- Church Council Chair's File 1974-1975
- Church Council Chair's File 1976
- Worship Committee Minutes 1959-1963
- Worship Study Committee Minutes 1960
- Christian Education Cabinet Minutes 1973-
- Mission and Service Board Minutes 1958-1977
- Mission and Service Board Minutes 1978-
- Elders Meeting Minutes 1974-
- Sunday Evening and Music Committee Minutes
- Commission on Divorce and Remarriage
- Commission on Aging
- Protection Plan: Children, Youth, Adults, and Leaders booklet 2018
Return to Top
Box 1.5 Congregational Meetings
Annual & Congregational Meetings
1951, 1957-1982
1990-2006, 2008-2010, 2013-2018
Box 1.6 - Correspondence
- Home Life Magazine Correspondence
- Annual Pastoral Letters
- Monthly Pastoral Letters 1950-1964
- Correspondence Pre-1955
- Correspondence 1955
- Correspondence 1956
- Correspondence 1957
- Correspondence 1958
- Correspondence 1959
- Correspondence 1960
- Correspondence 1961
- Correspondence 1962
- Correspondence 1963
- Correspondence 1964
- Correspondence 1965
- Correspondence 1966
- Correspondence 1967
- Correspondence 1968
- Correspondence 1969
- Correspondence 1970
- Haiti Project Correspondence 1969-1974
- Haiti Project Correspondence 1974-1975
- Organ Correspondence 1974-1977
Box 1.7 - Miscellaneous
- Church-School Week Committee 1958-1959
- K-W Hospital Radio Chapel 1957-1961
- K-W Council of Churches 1963-1967
- K-W Hospital Chapel 1967
Box 1.8 - Ladies' Aid Minutes
- Ladies' Aid Minute Book 1908-1916
- Ladies' Aid Minute Book 1916-1923
- Ladies' Aid Annual Meetings 1924-1925
- Ladies' Aid Minute Book 1925-1937
- Ladies' Aid Minute Book 1937-1941
- Ladies' Aid Minute Book 1941-1947
- Ladies' Aid Minute Book 1948-1960
- Sewing Circle Relief Committee
Box 1.9 - Dorcas Circle Minutes
- Dorcas Circle Minute Book 1918-1935
- Dorcas Circle Minute Book 1930-1938
- Dorcas Circle Minutes 1939-1946 (missing)
- Dorcas Circle Minute Book 1947-1958
- Dorcas Circle Minutes 1959-1972
- Dorcas Circle Minutes 1972-1981
- Dorcas Circle Account Book 1928-1929
- Dorcas Circle Account Book 1928-1936
- Dorcas Circle Annual Reports 1931-1941
- Dorcas Circle Account Book 1941-1981
- Dorcas Fellowship record book, 1976-1995 (the "Fellowship" was for single women and widows)
Return to Top
Box 1.10 - Bon Accord Minutes
- Bon Accord Minute Books
- Bon Accord Attendance Records
- Bon Accord Account Book, 1947-1993
- Young Women's Bible Class Missionary Offering Account Book 1940-1952
- Young Women's Bible Class Missionary Offering Account Book 1952- 1958
- Young Women's Auxiliary Minute Book 1963-1969
- Young Women's Auxiliary Account Book 1963-1968
- Young Women's Auxiliary Membership List 1966-1967
Box 1.11 - Women's Organizations, Misc.
- Published articles on women's missionary organizations
- History of women's organizations at First Mennonite Church
- Constitution of First Mennonite's Women's Missionary and Service Auxiliary
- Planning Committee Minutes 1955-
- WMSA Correspondence 1955-1962
- WMSA Minutes 1965-1971
Box 1.12 - Young People's Bible Meetings, Mennonite Youth Fellowship
- Young Peoples' Bible Meeting Programs
- Young Peoples' Bible Meeting Minute Book 1936-1938
- Young Peoples' Bible Meeting Minute Book 1943-1950
3a. Intermediate YPM records, 1943-1945
3b. YPBM financial records, 1938-1947
- Mennonite Youth Fellowship Program Materials
- Mennonite Youth Fellowship Correspondence 1957-1962
- Mennonite Youth Fellowship Correspondence 1963-1969
- Mennonite Youth Fellowship Correspondence 1970-1981
- Couples' Club
- Junior Camp Reports 1960-1961
- Church Camp 1963
- Church Camp 1964
- Church Camp 1964-1965
- Instruction Class Materials 1959-1960
- Baptismal Vows 1969
- Torchbearers
- Student Aid
Box 1.13 - Daily Vacation Bible School
- Daily Vacation Bible School Programs and Correspondence 1928- 1969
- Daily Vacation Bible School Progams and Correspondence
- Edna B. Rowe. Standard Vacation Bible School Courses Kindergarten: First Year. Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1928.
- Arthur W. Gross. The One Eternal God: A Workbook for Vacation Bible School. St. Louis, Missouri, n.d.
- Daily Vacation Bible School Scrapbook of Programs, 1928-1963
- Daily Vacation Bible School Attendance Record, 1940-1960, for children aged four
- Daily Vacation Bible School Attendance Record, 1937-1950, for children aged five
- Daily Vacation Bible School Attendance Record, 1937-1950, for children aged six
- Daily Vacation Bible School Attendance Record, 1937-1950, for children aged seven
- Daily Vacation Bible School Attendance Record, 1937-1950, for children aged eight
- Daily Vacation Bible School Attendance Record, 1937-1950, for children aged nine
- Daily Vacation Bible School Attendance Record, 1937-1950, for children aged ten
- Daily Vacation Bible School Attendance Record, 1937-1950, for children aged eleven
- Daily Vacation Bible School Attendance Record, 1937-1950, for children aged twelve
- Daily Vacation Bible School Attendance Record, 1937-1950, for children aged thirteen
- Daily Vacation Bible School Attendance Record, 1937-1950, for children aged fourteen
- Memorabilia from 1940 Vacation Bible School saved by Margaret Fuller
Box 1.14 - Biographical information on prominant women
- Louida Bauman
- Elaine Brubacher
- Mary Clemens
- Mary Cressman
- Una Cressman
- Doris Gascho
- Alice Kehl
- Maria Kolb
- Ruby Schmidt
- Linda Shantz
- Susannah Shantz
- Alice Snyder
- Florence Snyder
- Mary Snyder
- Dorothy Swartzentruber
- Barbara Sherk
- Malinda Mumaw
Return to Top
Box 1.15 - Research for 175th Anniversary History
- Baden Mission
- Blacks (Charlie Jones)
- Brubacher, Glenn
- Choir
- Deacon Board (Eldership)
- Derstine, C.F.
- Dress
- Knollwood Park Gospel Centre
- Polity
- Rockway Mennonite Church
- Spanish Ministry
- Sunday School
- Theology of Evangelism
- World War I
- World War II
- Young Peoples' Bible Meetings
- Balmer, Brice
- Stirling Ave.
Box 1.16 - Historical Writings
- Samuel Bowman's History 1902
- Aaron Kolb's History 1902
- George Weber's Historical Notes n.d.
- J.B. Cressman's History 1939
- 1950 Church Addition Dedication programme
- 150th Anniversary Book
- 1963 Stewardship Calendar
- 160th Anniversary (1974) Materials
- 1834 Meetinghouse Materials
- Berlin/Kitchener Maps
- Hand copied Articles from Religoser Botschafter Newspaper
- Berlin/Kitchener Histories
- Berlin Deeds
- Berlin Roads
- Waterloo County Deeds
- Newspaper Clippings
- Historical Materials Collected by 175th Anniversary Committee
- 175th Anniversary Committee Correspondence and Minutes
- 175th Anniversary Committee Minutes
Box 1.17 - Sunday School, etc.
- Cecil Gingrich's Note Book of Lessons, Sermons, and Blair Gospel Service Worship Schedules
- Nursery Schedule 1969-1976
- Cradle Roll Birthday and Record Books 1928-1950
- Secret Sisters 1957-1984
- Sunday School Record Book, 1931-1935
- Annual Sunday school reports to Conference, 1926-1932
- Teacher's meetings minutes, 1931-1938
- Sunday school minutes, teacher lists, 1944-1962
- Sunday school account book, 1962-1982
Box 1.18 - Miscellaneous
- Obituary notices, 1969-1992
- Special programs
Return to Top
Series 2: Informal records and memorabilia
Box 2.1 - Books
Biblia, Das ist: Die ganze Heilige Schrift des Alten und Neuen Testaments, Nach der dutschen Uebersetzung D. Martin Luthers; Mit eines jeden Capitels kurzen Summarien, Auch beygefügten vielen aufs neue berichtigten Parallelen. Philadelphia: Kimber und Scharple, 1831. Typeset bookplate is pasted on inside front cover: "Diese Bibel ist bestimmt zum Lob Gottes und Gebrauch in Eby's Versammlungshaus" (This Bible is intended for the praise of God and use in Eby's meetinghouse).
The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments: Translated out of the Original Tongues; and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, By His Majesty's Command. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1884. Inscription on front flyleaf: This bible has been placed here instead of the one formerly used, and owned by my Grandfather the late Rev Benjamin Eby. Berlin. Eby's church--August 27th 1886. E. E. Eby.
C. R. Demme, ed. Die Werke des Flavius Josephus, des berichten Judischen Geschichtsreibers. Enthaltend: Zwanzig Bucher von der alten Judischen Geschichte; Sieben Bucher vom Kriege der Juden mid den Römern; Zwey Bucher von dem alten Herkommen der Juden wider Apion; Ein Buch von dem M?rertode er Makkab?nd Das Leben des Josephus von ihm selbst geschrieben. Philadelphia: Kimber und Scharpleß 1846.
Christian Monitor. June, 1924-December, 1928.
Das Neue Testament Unsers Herrn und Heilandes Jesue Christi, Nach der Deutschen Uebsetzung Doctor Martin Luthers. Mit kurzem Inhalt eines jeden Capitels, und vollständiger Anweisung gleicher Schriftstellen. Wie auch aller Sonn-und Festt?en Evangelien und Episteln. Lancaster: Johann Bär, 1844. Inscription on inside front cover: "Dieses Testament ist bestimmit zum Lob Gottes und Gebrauch in Eby's Versammlungshaus" (This testament is intended for the praise of God and use in Eby's meetinghouse).
Unpartheyisches Gesang-Buch, enthaltend Geistreiche Lieder und Psalmen, zum allgemeinen Gebrauch des Wahren Gottesdienstes. Lancaster: Johann Bär, 1820. Inscription on outside front cover: "Dieses Gesang Buch gehoret in des Eby's Versammlungshaus" (This song book belongs in Eby's meetinghouse).
Christliches Gemeinsgesprach vom Seligmachenden Glauben, für die Jugend, in Fragen und Antworten; und ein Glaubens-Bekenntniss der Mennoniten. Nebst einem Anhang. Elkhart, Indiana: J. F. Funk, 1873. Inscription on front flyleaf: "This book belongs to Christian Ebys, meeting house Catechism and Confession of Faith of the Mennonite Church."
Spurgeon, C.H. Twelve Striking Sermons by C.H. Spurgeon. London: Passmore and Alabaster, n.d. Typeset bookplate pasted on inside flyleaf: "Mennonite Sunday School at Eby's Church. This reward is presented to Lucinda Betzner, Jan 1st 1892. Teacher Andrew Schaaf, Sup't: Isidor B. Snyder, Asst. Sup't: David Shuh, Secretary: Josiah Weber".
Moody, D. L. Bible Characters. Chicago: Fleming H. Revell, 1888. Typeset bookplate pasted on inside flyleaf: "Mennonite Sunday School at Eby's Church. This reward is presented to Susannah Shantz, Jan 1st 1892. Teacher Mary Oberholtzer, Supt't: Isidor B. Snyder, Asst. Sup't: David Shuh, Secretary: Josiah Weber".
Derstine, C. F. The Sheet Music of Heaven (Spiritual Song): The Might Triumphs of Sacred Song. Eureka, Ill.: C. F. Derstine, 1925.
Die Gemeinschaftliche Liedersammlung zum allgemeinen Gebrauch des wahren Gottesdienstes: Mit einem Inhalt sammt zweifachem Register versehen. Berlin, Canada: Boedecker u. Stuebing, 1857. Title page missing. Inscription on inside flyleaf: Samuel S. Bowman, Berlin, April 6--1902.
The Child's Preacher: or, The Gospel Taught to Children in Very Simple Language / by the Hon. and Rev. L. Barrington. London : Wertheim and Macintosh, 1853. Inscription on flyleaf: Simon Bowman's Prize Book 1871. William Sherk, Teacher. [Simon Bowman was son of preacher Samuel S.Bowman.]
Box 2.2
Stewardship Slides, 1964
Plaque presented to Bishop C. F. Derstine in 1964
Four copper engravings of First Mennonite Church buildings
Songs of the Christian faith compiled by E.V. Halt, Y.P. Rodeheaver, Kenneth Wells (Winona Lake, Ind. : Rodeheaver Hall-Mack Co, 1945) (K-W Fireside stamped on cover; used in 1950s)
The sheet music of heaven (spiritual song) : the mighty triumphs of sacred song by C.F. Derstine (Toronto, Ont. : Evangelical Publishers, 1925) (Label on front flyleaf: "Property of First Mennonite Ladies Aid")
Bryan Suderman, "The Development of the Spanish Community at the First Mennonite Church, Kitchener, Ontario," CMBC student paper, 1988, 23, [12] leaves.
Ernie Martin, "Memories of First Mennonite," n.d., 1 leaf
Clippings
Promotional materials
Return to Top
Series 3: Newsletters
First Forum November
1974-1982
1982-1991
1992-2000 (incomplete)
2002-2005, 2007
First Mennonite Messenger, Jan-Mar. 1970
Your Mennonite Neighbours: A [...] Newsletter from First Mennonite Church and Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church, Oct 1988, Mar 1989, Jun 1991
Return to Top
Series 4: Bulletins
1949-1955 (incomplete)
1956-2018