Grace Mennonite Church

Classification scheme:

XIII-2-6

Title: Grace Mennonite Church (St. Catharines) fonds

Dates of creation: 1967-2007

Physical description: 12 cm of textual records

Administrative history: The church is located at 677 Niagara St., St. Catharines, ON, L2M 6P5.

The congregation began services in 1956, and formally organized in 1957. The first building was occupied in 1958, with a subsequent building program in 1960. Henry Fransen is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through division from St. Catharines United Mennonite Church because of its desire to use the English language in worship. Henry Fransen was the first pastor, beginning in 1957.

The families who initiated Sunday school and worship services in 1956 were Walter Epp, Henry Schellenberg, Henry Nickel, and David Dyck. During the first year, David Schroeder, then a seminary student in Chicago, preached about twice a month.

The congregation has been affiliated with the Conference of United Mennonite Churches in Ontario (1959-1988), Conference of Mennonites in Canada (1959-), General Conference Mennonite Church (1959-) and Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada (1988-). The language of worship is English.

Leading ministers since 1957 have included Henry Fransen (1957-1964); Arthur Dick (1964-1967), John P. Krahn (1967-1970), Henry P. Epp (Interim, 1970/71), Edward Enns (1971-1975), Fred Unruh (1975-1985), Henry Paetkau (1985-2000), Wanda Roth Amstutz and Doug Amstutz (2001-2007)

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

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

Notes:
For photographs related to this congregation search the Mennonite Archival Image Database.

An encyclopedia entry for this congregation may be found in GAMEO

Original archival description created March 2000 by Sam Steiner

File list: