Hours
Generally 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday to Friday. An appointment in advance is recommended.
Contact
Mennonite Archives of OntarioConrad Grebel University College
140 Westmount Road North
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G6
Phone: 519-885-0220 x24238
Title: Shantz Mennonite Church fonds
Dates of Creation: 1882-2012
Note: Further accruals are expected
Physical description: 2 m of textual records
Administrative history: Shantz Mennonite Church probably held its earliest services in a schoolhouse on farmland owned by George Schmitt. That land is across the road and north of the present location of the church, close to Baden, Ontario.
In 1853, the first church building was erected on land donated by David Y. Shantz. According to custom, the name then changed to Shantz Mennonite Meetinghouse, and later, probably in the early 1900s, to Shantz Mennonite Church. The first building was of stone, remodelled in 1900. It was replaced by the present red brick structure in 1929, which included a basement to house Sunday School space and a kitchen. An addition in 1959 provided more Sunday School facilities, an updated kitchen and new washrooms. In 1988, a further addition was built with a new entrance to the east side of the church as well as more Sunday School and office space.
The first minister of Shantz Mennonite Church was George Schmitt, who was ordained on April 12, 1840 (although another source says 1847), and served until his death in 1882. The next minister was Tobias Bowman, who served until 1898. Orphen Wismer, from the Geiger Church, was ordained in 1898, and served until 1937. Leslie Witmer was ordained in 1937 and served until 1969. He was assisted in later years by Harold Shantz (1966-1967). Up to and including Leslie Witmer, ministers and deacons were chosen by lot.
Deacons who served this congregation were John C. Shantz, (1853-1875), John D. Shantz (1875-1911), Ezra Shantz (1911-1940), Eldon Hunsberger (1940-1953), J.C. Fretz (1953-1956). Fretz was the last deacon.
Lester Kehl served as pastor from 1967-1976, and was ordained in 1971. Ed Kauffman served as pastor from from 1976-1984, and was ordained in 1978. Vernon Zehr served from 1984-1990 Vernon co-pastored with Doris Gascho from 1987-1990. Doris served as pastor from 1990-1991, then co-pastored with Jim Loepp Thiessen until 1994.
Custodial history: The Shantz Mennonite Church records have been received over many years by the Archives
Notes:
For photographs related to this congregation search the Mennonite Archival Image Database.
Additional information about this congregation can be found in the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online.
Original archival description created by Sam Steiner; revisions provided in 2018 by Mary Schiedel
File list:
1. Bulletins
1960-1964 (evening services only)
Nov 1965-2012
2. Event Calendars
2000-2002 (incomplete)
2004-2009
1978-First Quarter 1995
1997-2002
January-July 2004
Footprints, Jun 2006-Mar/Apr 2009
Generally 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Monday to Friday. An appointment in advance is recommended.
Phone: 519-885-0220 x24238
Conrad Grebel University College
140 Westmount Road North
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G6
519-885-0220
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Conrad Grebel University College is situated on the traditional territory of the Attawandaron (Neutral), Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Read Grebel's full territorial acknowledgement.