©Mennonite Heritage Centre 2003
Last updated 8 April 2026

Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Title: Home Street Mennonite Church (Winnipeg) fonds
Dates: 1957-2018
Extent: 112 cm of textual records
Extent: 3 microfilm reels

Historical note

Home Street Mennonite Church began out of a decision by the central authority (Lehrdiendst) of the Bergthaler Church of Manitoba to found a congregation in the city of Winnipeg in 1957. The congregation was first called the Winnipeg Bergthler Church. This group met in rented facilities in North Kildonan for the first year. In 1958 they purchased their own meeting house at the corner of Simcoe and St. Matthews. By 1962 they needed larger facilities and purchased another meeting house at the corner of Ross and Sherbrook. In 1966, partially to alleviate space problems, another group was started, known as the Fort Garry Fellowship. Yet they still outgrew the facilities and so in 1973 purchased the former Home Street United Church and changed their name to Home Street Mennonite Church. In 1994 another congregation emerged from this group known as the Good News Mennonite Church. The leaders of the congregation were: Ernest Wiebe (1957-1966, 1984), Edward Brandt (1966-1967), Clarence Epp (1967-1972), David Wiebe (1972-1977), John R. Friesen (1977-1983), Robert Pauls (1985-2000), Tym Elias (2001-2009, Ken Bechtel (interim 2009-2010) and Terry Zimmerly (2011-2017); Melissa Miller (interim) (2017 - )  .

Scope and content note

This fonds contains bulletins (1961-2018), annual reports (1962-2011), membership lists, registers, and family registers (1957-1982), financial records (1957-1979), directories (1977-2005), pictorial directories (1973-1993), brief histories (1958-1983), calendar of activities (1964-1986), newsletters (1978-2005), and miscellaneous documents (1963-1993). The records pertain to the founding, development and on going activities of the leaders and participants of this congregation.

Adjunct descriptive data

Finding aids

Inventory file list available.

Notes

Language

Some German.

Restrictions on access

No restrictions on access.

Other notes

Some textual records were microfilmed in 1980. Other textual records were deposited by the congregation and various members. Described by Bert Friesen 27 November 2001; updated by Alf Redekopp 8 May 2013; updated by Selenna Wolfe 21 February 2019. 

Home Street Mennonite Church (Winnipeg) fonds file list:

Volume 52

  1. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (1960)
  2. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (1961)
  3. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (1962)
  4. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (1963), miscellaneous correspondence (1963)
  5. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (1964), evening service calendar (1964)
  6. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (1965), expansion questionnaire (1965)
  7. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (1966)
  8. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (1967), list of prospective members [1967], list of attendees [1967], list of church members (1967), minutes of brotherhood (25 Nov. 1967)
  9. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (1968) minutes of brotherhood (29 Oct. 1968)
  10. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (1969)
  11. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (1970)
  12. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (1971)
  13. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (1972), historical chronology of Bergthaler in Manitoba (1972)
  14. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church bulletins (1973), membership list (1972), pictorial directory (1973)
  15. S.S. attendance statistics. -- 1 Oct. 1967 - Dec. 1983.

Volume 53

  1. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1974), congregational calendars (1974)
  2. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1975), congregational calendars (1975), congregational constitution (1975)
  3. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1976), congregational calendars (1976), newspaper clipping (1976), women in mission constitution (1976)
  4. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1977), congregational calendars (1977), Westgate newsletter (1977), minutes of Pioneer Girls committee (1977)
  5. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1978), congregational calendars (1978), congregational newsletter (1978), congregational officer holders (1978), prayer week calendar (1978), annual reports (1978)
  6. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1979), congregational calendars (1979), prayer week calendar (1979), miscellaneous correspondence (1979)
  7. Home Street Mennonite Church newsletters (1978-1981)

Volume 1430

  1. Extra photos (duplicates of ones in book entitled: The Story of Home Street Mennonite Church 1957-1982: Responses To The Urban Environment)
  2. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1980), congregational calendars (1980), Elim report (1980)
  3. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1981), directory (1981), native Christian church proposal (1981), newspaper clipping (1981)
  4. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1982), directory (1982), congregational newsletter (1982), 25th anniversary programme (1982), church office holders (1982), annual reports (1982)
  5. 1982 Homecoming register
  6. Partial History of the Home Street Mennonite Church 1957-1966 [1st draft of the first 10 years] / by Dennis Stoesz. (1983). (Acc. 09-043)

Volume 2393

  1. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1983), mid-year reports (1983), congregational newsletters (1983), annual reports (1983)
  2. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1984), congregational calendars (1984), congregational newsletter (1984), annual reports (1984)

Volume 2420

  1. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1985), directory (1985), annual reports (1985)
  2. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1986), directory (1986), congregational calendars (1986), congregational newsletters (1986), annual reports (1986)
  3. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1987), pictorial directory (1987), congregational newsletter (1987), annual reports (1987)
  4. Home Street Mennonite Church history book reports and memos. -- 1985-1987.

Volume 3900

  1. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1988), congregational newsletters (1988), directory (1988), annual reports (1988)
  2. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1989), WMES brochure ([198-?]), directory (1989), annual reports (1989), congregational newsletter (1989)
  3. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1990), directory (1990), congregational newsletter (1990), annual reports (1990)
  4. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1991), directory (1991), congregational newsletter (1991), annual reports (1991)

Volume 4261

  1. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1992), congregational newsletters (1992)
  2. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1993), congregational newsletters (1993), annual reports (1993), directory (1993), miscellaneous correspondence (1993), congregational meeting minutes (1993)
  3. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1994), congregational meeting minutes (1994), congregational constitution (1994), directory (1994), congregational newsletters (1994), annual reports (1994)
  4. HSMC controversy and split documents (19 documents collected by J. Letkemann). -- 1989-1994. (Acc. 2011-077)

Volume 4446

  1. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1995), church council meeting minutes (1995), congregational meeting minutes (1995), congregational newsletters (1995)
  2. Home Street Mennonite Church annual reports (1995)
  3. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1996), congregational newsletters (1996), annual reports (1996)
  4. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1997), directory (1997)

Volume 4614

  1. Home Street Mennonite Church annual reports (1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997), pictorial directory (1993), directories (1994, 1996), evangelism committee proposal (1991), worship questionnaire (1991), pastoral needs report (1990)
  2. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1998), congregational meeting minutes (1998), congregational newsletter (1998), annual reports (1998)
  3. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (1999), congregational newsletters (1999), annual reports (1999), directory (1999), congregational meeting minutes (1999)

Volume 4921

  1. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (2000), directory (2000), congregational newsletters (2000), annual reports (2000)
  2. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (2001)
  3. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (2002), parts of Vol.#24 of Home Spun, directory (2002)
  4. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (2004); report book (2003), phone directory (2004)

Volume 1617

  1. Home Street Mennonite Church minutes of education committee (1978), ministerial committee (1978), congregational meetings (1976-1981, 1965-1966), church council meetings (1966, 1967, 1977, 1978), congregational office holders (1973), annual reports (1966, 1971)
  2. Home Street Mennonite Church statistics (1957-1967), Betty Wiebe's reflections (1957-1973), farewell to Sherbrook & Ross (1973), E. Techroew : A Parable (1973)
  3. A brief history of Home Street Mennonite church (1983) [student paper].
  4. Home Street Mennonite Church annual reports (1964, 1965, 1977, 1979, 1981), congregational meeting minutes (1967)
  5. Home Street Mennonite Church directories (1977-1979), adherents list (1965), membership list (1973)
  6. Youth minutes and activities (1958-1982).

Volume 1947

  1. Home Street Mennonite Church directory (1980), pictorial directory (1981), annual reports (1976-1981), congregational record book chronicling registers, minutes, historical highlights, statistics (1958-1968)
  2. Home Street Mennonite Church miscellaneous documents including newspaper clippings (1978-1980), correspondence (1963-1967), Bethel Place proposal ([197-]), retreat programme (1980), Women in Mission constitution (1979), issue papers (1978-1979)
  3. Winnipeg Bergthaler Mennonite Church historical sketch ([196-?]), youth group documents (1959-1961)

Volume 2146

  1. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (2005); annual report book (2005)
  2. HOMESPUN (Newsletter) (2002-2005) (Vol. 25:10-28:[4]
  3. Sewing Sisters/Women's Missionary Society minutes and membership lists (1966-1976)
  4. Women in Mission reports to Canadian Women in Mission (1970-1979)
  5. Home St. Women in Mission financial records (1966-1980)
  6. Home St. Mennonite Church bulletins (2006), annual report book (2006), phone directory (2005) (2006)
  7. Home St. Mennonite Church pictoral directory (2005)
  8. Artifacts: 3 stamps used by women's groups (missionary society, sewing sisters)
Volume 5299
  1. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (2007); annual report book (2007)
  2. Home Street Mennonite Church "Homespun" (2006) Vol. 29. 1-4
  3. Home Street Mennonite Church "Homespun" (2007) Vol. 30 1-10
  4. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (2008), "Homespun" Vol. 31/2008 1-6 & Vol. 32/2008 1-3; annual report book for 2008
  5. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (2009), "Homespun" Vol. 32/2009 4-10; annual report book (2009)
Volume 5422 (Acc. 09-045)
  1. Music Committee minutes, 1975-1982.
  2. Correspondence related to history book printing, 1985.
  3. Home Street Mennonite Church history book by Dennis Stoesz "paste-up sheets", 1985.
  4. Home Street Mennonite Church bulletins (2010); Homespun 33/2010 #1; 34/2010 #1-5
Volume 5581
  1. Home St. Mennonite Church bulletins (2011); annual report book (2010); Homespun Vol. 35 #1-6
  2. Home St. Mennonite Church bulletins (2012); annual report book (2011); Homespun Vol. 36 #1-3
  3. Home St. Mennonite Church bulletins (2013)
  4. Home St. Mennonite Church bulletins (2014)
 Volume 5692  (Acc. 13-045)
  1. Property survey and Certificate of Title (photocopy). -- 1974. (Original in safety deposit box at CrosstownCivic (2013).
  2. Building history - Home St. Presbyterian Church bulletin. ca. 1920.
  3. Building history - Home Sr. United Church newspaper clippings. -- 1955, 1965.
  4. Pipe Organ correspondence. -- 1973-1978.
  5. Music Committee reports, correspondence, etc. -- 1982-1988.
  6. Bannock Point involvment. -- 1980-1983.
  7. Re. Waldemar & Esther Matz. -- 1983-1989.
  8. Re. Carole Jantzen Assistance Fund. -- 1990-1991.
  9. Constitutional Review Committee. -- 1989.
  10. Series of Lent Bulletins by Nettie Bergmann on the "I am..." statements of Jesus. -- 1994.
  11. Home St. MC Photos 1957-2007 (1 CD).
  12. Issues discussed and studied at Ministerial Committee (1979-1980), Leadership Group (1989) and Pastoral Care Commission  (1994) such as member concerns,  divorce & re-marriage, baptism & church membership, inter-faith marriages).
Volume 6304

1.  Home St. Mennonite Church bulletins (2015)
2.  Home St. Mennonite Church bulletins (2016)
3.  Home St. Mennonite Church bulletins (2017)
4.  Home St. Mennonite Church bulletins (2018)


Volume 6936 Acc 2025-021

1.       1. Music and Worship Committee Minutes. - 1996-2000 and Worship Surveys, teams. 1987-2000.

2.       2. Education Committee Meeting Minutes.-1993-1997.

3.       3. Congregational Meeting Minutes. – 1991-2000.

4.       4. Council Meeting Minutes, and Executive Meeting Minutes. -1996-2002.

5.       5. Finance Committee Minutes. – 1996-1997.

6.       6. Missions Committee Minutes. - 1995-1997.

7.       7. Gift Discernment Committee Minutes. -1995-1997.

8.       8. Pastoral Care Commission Minutes. – 1996-1997.

9.       9. Service Committee Minutes. – 1995-1996.

10  10. Trustee Committee Minutes. – 1989-1997.

11  11. Visitation Program. – 1990-1993.

12.   12. Report Books. - 2014,2015.

13.   13. Pastoral Evaluation Form, Results for Bob Pauls. – 1996. - Restricted.

14.   14. Membership List for Visitation Work “Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Winnipeg”. – 1957-1966

15.   15. Constitution. – 1994.

16.   16. MCC Global Family Programme. – 1990-2003.

17.   17. Women’s Missionary Society of the Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Winnipeg, Minutes. – 1970-1976.

18.   18. Women in Mission Committee Minutes. – 1976-1986.

19.   19. Women in Mission Committee Minutes.-1987-1995.

20.   20. Women in Mission Committee Minutes. – 1996-2004

21.   21. Women in Mission, Sunshine Committee. – 1996-2000.

22.   22. Women in Mission, Salad and Dessert Suppers. – 1996-2003. And Christmas Banquets. - 1994-2003.

23.   23. Women in Mission, Programme Booklets. - 1987-1998.

24.   24. Women in Mission, Special Projects Including Recipes. – 1990-1995.

25.   25. Women in Mission Social Committee Minutes and Special Project Details. – 1959-1978.

26.   26. Women in Mission, Special Projects. – MCC, Chile, Kentucky, Russia, Hopi Mission School and much more. – 1990-2004

27.   27. Women in Mission Social Committee Minutes and Special Project Details. – 1974- 2001.

28.   28. Women in Mission, letters announcing ending. – 2004.

29.   29. Correspondence. – 1982 – 1989. – Includes Corporation Closing of the Bergthaler Mennonite Church of Manitoba, August 16, 1985.

30.   30. Correspondence. – 1990-1991.

31.   31. Correspondence. – 1992-1994.

32.   32. Correspondence – Restricted Files. – 1984-1993.


Microfilm

(MHC Project No. 47; MHC Microfilm no. 198, 199, 200)

Home Street Mennonite Church Records, 1957-1980 on microfilm Project 47 (June 1980)

Microfilm #198
  1. Church Membership Registers; 1976-79 (June 1966); December 1965; January 19671 March 1968; January 1969-January 1973; Statistics on membership 1957-67; Census of students beyond High School 1966; Youth List for CMBC mailings 1966, 1961, 1964.
  2. Membership Ledgers
    1. Index [Membership Book A, 1957-66]
    2. Index [Statistical Record Book, 1957-66]
    3. Church Register Book, Volume 1, 1966-1972
    4. Church Register Book, Volume II, 1972-1980
    5. Register of Marriages, 1951-1980

Microfilm #199
  1. Church History Papers and Publications
    1. Kathy Letkemann, 1973, 27 p.
    2. Bernie Wiebe, 1958, 7 p.
    3. Lawrence Klippenstein, 1967, 5 p.
    4. Newspaper articles, 1976-79, Mennonite Reporter
  2. Minutes
    1. Congregational Meeting Minutes, 1957-79
    2. Church Council Meeting Minutes, 1958-79
    3. Committees
      1. Education Meeting Minutes, 1965-79
      2. Sunday School Meeting Minutes, 1965-79
      3. Pioneer Girls Minutes, 1966; 1974-79
      4. Daily Vacation Bible School (DVBS), 1970, 1978; 1979
      5. Education Material Miscellaneous, 1964-78
      6. Finance Committee Meeting Minutes, 1961, 1965-79
      7. Women's Groups; 1965 (Sewing Sisters); 1966-80 (Women in Mission)
      8. Youth Minutes and Activities, 1958-69; 1975-78; 1969-70
      9. Trustee Committee Meeting Minutes, 1970-78
      10. Service Board Meeting Minutes (including Usher's Committee, Selkirk Hospital Services, Bethel Mennnnite Care Service) 1966-79
      11. Music CommitteR Meeting Minutes, 1970-79
      12. Missions Committee Meeting Minutes, 1959-79
      13. Ministerial Committee Meeting Minutes, 1958, 1965-79

Microfilm #200
      1. Student Minister Committee Minutes, 1979
  1. Annual Reports, 1962-80
  2. Miscellaneous
    1. Financial Registers, 1957-73; and Reports 1961, 1963-65, 1967, 1976-79
    2. Visitation Materials, 1963-65 (Personal Workers)
    3. Personal Letters, ..1.970-77 [short section];
    4. Personal Letters, Pastor, 1958-76
    5. Constitutions of the Church, 1962, 1968, 1975, 1980, and other, constitutions from other churches
    6. Legal Papers, 1962-79
    7. Bergthaler Church of Manitoba, minutes, correspondence, reports, 1963-78
    8. Miscellaneous Letters, 1960-77
    9. Letters to the 'Congregation (transfers, etc.)., 1959-77 [a long section]
    10. Correspondence re: Committees, 1966-79
  3. Adventure Crossroads Incorporated, 1972-74