The Bethany Mennonite congregation formally organized in 1932. The first building was occupied in 1932, with a subsequent building program in 1951. J. Klassen is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through immigration from the Soviet Union. A parsonage was built in the autumn of 1984.

The church building was located two miles east of the CBK radio station. Congregational chairperson Edward Kornelsen served in 1996 as congregational leader. In 1953 there were 88 members; in 1965, 84; in 1975, 64; in 1985, 45; in 1995, 23; in 2000, 23; in 2006, 10. The congregation was affiliated with the Mennonite Church Saskatchewan, Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada (1932-) and the General Conference Mennonite Church (1947-2001). The language of worship is English; the transition from German occurred in the 1960s.

Because of dwindling numbers and an aging membership the congregation closed in 2006. Many of its remaining members joined the North Star Mennonite Church.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 304. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

©1996-2009 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

MLA style: Epp, Marlene and Sam Steiner. "Bethany Mennonite Church (Watrous, Saskatchewan, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. July 2009. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 November 2009 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/B4854.html>

APA style: Epp, Marlene and Sam Steiner. (July 2009). "Bethany Mennonite Church (Watrous, Saskatchewan, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 November 2009 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/B4854.html>