Listowel Mennonite Church (Listowel, ON)

Classification scheme:

III-47

Title: Listowel Mennonite Church fonds

Dates of creation: 1963-2008
Note: Further accruals are expected.

Physical description: 65 cm of textual records

Administrative history: Located at 465 Maitland Ave. S., Listowel, Ontario, the congregation began services in April 1963 with three families that held services in the Listowel Memorial Arena auditorium. In the fall of 1963 the growing congregation moved to a building vacated by the Pentecostal Church which was moving to larger quarters. The congregation formally organized in 1964 and held a ground-breaking service for its new building in October 1965. The building was occupied in 1966 with a subsequent building program in 1981.

The congregation originated as a church plant by the Mennonite Conference of Ontario because of Mennonite families were moving into the area for less costly farm land. The congregation affiliated as a congregation with the Mennonite Conference of Ontario in 1971, the Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada in 1988 and the Conference of Mennonites in Canada in 1995.

Amsey Martin, who was also the pastor at Glen Allan in 1963, served as the founding pastor of the congregation. Pastoral leaders since 1963 have included Amsey Martin (1963-1970), Jesse B. Martin (Interim, 1970-1971), Ray Erb (1971-1976), No resident pastor (1976-1977), Brian Laverty (1977-1986), Doris & Rod Weber (Interim, 1986-1987), Gordon Martin (Interim, 1988), Jock & Pam Tolmay (1988-1991), Jock Tolmay (1991-1992), Richard Yordy (Interim, 1992-1993), Fred Lichti (1993-2010), Nancy Brubaker (Interim, 2010-2011), Norm Dyck (2011- )

In 1965 there were 26 members; in 1975, 128; in 1985, 193; in 1995, 174.

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

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

Notes: Original archival description created December 1999 by Sam Steiner.
Any photographs related to this congregation can be found in Mennonite Archival Image Database. Further records of this congregation can be located by searching the Archives.