The First Mennonite Church (Vineland, ON)

Classification scheme:

III-24

Title: The First Mennonite Church, Vineland fonds

Dates of creation: 1799-2001

Phsycial description: 1.75 m of textual records

Administrative history: The congregation has been affiliated with the Mennonite Conference of Ontario (1820-1988), the Mennonite Church (1898-), the Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada (1988-) and Mennonite Church Canada (1995-).

The congregation began services about 1800, and formally organized in 1801. The first building was occupied in 1801, with subsequent building programs in 1810, 1897, and 1962. Valentine Kratz is considered the first minister".

First Mennonite is the oldest Mennonite congregation in Canada. At one time the congregation had three places of worship: the Moyer church at the present location, the Mountain church (extinct) and the Jordan church (extinct). Services were held alternately at the three churches.

First Mennonite was known as Moyer Mennonite Church until 1955. It experienced loss of members both in the New Mennonite division and Old Order Mennonite division.

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

Scope and content: There are four series: Formal records, Informal records, Books, and Church bulletins

Notes: See also the Worship Services listing in Sound Recordings for First Mennonite-related services as well as oral history interviews done for the 200th anniversary by Laureen Harder at Hist.Mss.9.69.

For further information see: Their richest inheritance : a celebration of The First Mennonite Church, Vineland, Ontario, 1801-2001 by Laureen Harder (Vineland, ON : The First Mennonite Church, 2001).

Archival description created January 2001 by Sam Steiner

File list:

Series 1: Formal records

Jacob Moyer records from his Bible (photocopies with translations; original at Jordan Museum), 1799-1837.
Church Council Minutes, 1973, 1991 (partial)
Membership records
List of former members, n.d.
Handwritten membership list (1912-1950), with separate lists from 1945-1966. (first list likely by S. F. Coffman, remainder by Alvin Culp)
Typed list of members, including notes on withdrawals, deaths, etc. prepared by S.F. Coffman in 1951
Letters and certificates of transfer in and out of the congregation (kept by Alvin Culp, Deacon), ca. 1915-1966
Church constitution (holograph draft, plus copies from other congregations), 1977
Annual meeting minutes/reports (Pastor)
Undated motion from annual meeting "that S. F. Coffman be accepted as pastor & bishop, for the present year, or until other arrangements can be made."
Undated results of elections at annual meeting
1921 Results of election
1957 (recommendation re: church council)
1961-1963 (minutes)
1965 (pastor's report)
1967 (minutes)
1969-1977, 1979 (reports)
1983
1986
Mission Sewing Circle minutes
1918-1924
1924-1940
1940-1943
1944-1948
1951-1960
Mission Sewing Circle financial journals
1918-1938
1939-1943
Congregational financial reports
1946-1969, 1971
Congregational Financial journal
1901-1946
1947-1964
Sunday school minute books
1898-1936
1941-1970
Sunday school financial records
1897-1930
1950-1953
1953-1955
1956-1957
1959-1968
Young People's Bible Meeting minute and account book
1944-1961
Bonaccord Literary Society,
1939-1952
Jordan Branch, Upper Canada Bible Society cash book
1908-1915
Mennonite Aid Union valuation,
Parsonage, 1961,
Church building, 1964
Sunday School class attendance books,
1901/02
1915
1922-1935
1937-1950/51
1952/53-1960/61
Sunday School record books,
1905-1915, 1917-1932, 1934-1953, 1957/58-1960/61
Summer Bible School records,
1934-1954

Series 2: Informal records

WMSA correspondence, reports,
1918-1947
Bonaccord Literary Society papers and publications,
1934-1940s (much undated)
Correspondence
1936 (thanks for donations of fruit to Mennonite Gospel Mission, Toronto), 1942-1943 (letters during wartime allowing use of Alvin Culp's truck to transport Summer Bible School students), 1951, 1960 (includes ballots on calling Willis Hallman to ministry, 1951)
Misc. programmes (Young People's Meetings, Sunday school conferences, etc.)
1895-
150th Anniversary materials
1951
Biographical paper on John S. Coffman, n.d. (by Barbara Coffman?)
Sunday school picnic records, 1960-1966
Newsclippings
"Louth Harbour Shipping Company"
by Barbara Coffman, 1959
200th Anniversary materials
List of Ministers and Deacons, 1801-2001 compiled by Walter M. Fretz
Sequence of events, 1801-2001 compiled by Walter M. Fretz
List of names mentioned in annual meeting meetings, 1898-1990 compiled by Walter M. Fretz
Transcript of interview with Lena and Barbara Coffman by "VK", n.d.
Interview summaries of interviews by Laureen Harder
-- Jeanne Culp and Erla Culp, August 21, 2000
-- Lois Snyder, August 22, 2000
-- James Culp, Mike Culp, Liz High, Dean High, Ralph Culp, Carolyn (Culp) Hay, August 22, 2000
-- Walter and Elaine Fretz, August 23, 2000
-- Mimi Neufeld, August 23, 2000
-- Hedy Sawadsky, September 9, 2000
-- Tom and Maryanne Neufeld, Eugene and Carol Penner, October 29, 2000
-- Hank and Ester Saito, Anna Mae Fretz, March 10, 2001
-- Ella Graham, March 10, 2001
-- Clara High, Mildred Nigh, April 7, 2001
-- Rhea Young, April 9, 2001
Questionnaires used in book project
One copy of Their richest inheritance : a celebration of The First Mennonite Church, Vineland, Ontario, 1801-2001 by Laureen Harder
"Clergyman's Records" from funeral home given to officiants, 1951, 1956-1959, 1965
Congregational profile, 1974

Series 3: Books used by congregation

Bible Class question book for advanced scholars (Elkhart, Ind. : Mennonite Publishing Co., 1882) (Mary Rittenhouse copy)
Bible Class question book for advanced scholars (Elkhart, Ind. : Mennonite Publishing Co., 1888)
A collection of Psalms and hymns suited to the various occasions of public worship and private devotion compiled by a committee of Mennonites (Elkhart, Ind. : Mennonite Pub. Co., 188?) title page missing - "Moyer Church 1887"