Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren (Waldheim, Saskatchewan, Canada)
The Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren congregation near Waldheim, Saskatchewan began services in 1900, and formally organized in 1901. The first building was occupied in 1902, with a subsequent building program in 1911. Isaac Neufeld is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through immigration from Minnesota and South Dakota. Its German name was Bruderfeld.
The Brotherfield congregation was one of the first Mennonite Brethren congregations in Canada. During the years 1897-1899 a number of families from Minnesota and South Dakota pioneered in the Waldheim area. They met in homes until the formal 1901 organization.
Pastors in the Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church have been: Peter Nickel, Peter Dyck, David Klassen and Heinrich Zimmerman (all short term between 1901 and 1910); David Dyck (1910-1923); Henry A. Willems (1922-1950); Henry M. Willems (1948-1956); George Geddert (1956-1961); and Frank Kroeker (1962). After 1962 Bethany Bible School teachers pastored the Brotherfield Church on a part-time basis. They were: Cornie Braun, David Bergen, Ben Doerksen, Isaac Bergen, George Dirks, Elmer Andres, and Reuben Andres. The Brotherfield Church amalgamated with the Waldheim Mennonite Brethren Church on October 2, 1988. The building was sold and moved to Martensville in 1995 where it was renovated into a home.
In 1965 there were 79 members; in 1985, 66. The congregation dissolved in 1988. It had been affiliated with the Saskatchewan Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches and the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. The language of worship was English; the transition from German occurred in the 1950s.
The church was located on northwest corner of NW 1/4 of Sec. 11 R 6 T 42 W 3rd. Pastor Reuben Andres served in 1988 as a congregational leader.
Bibliography
Mennonite Brethren Herald (27 May 1988): 70; (6 January 1989): 18.
Waldheim Remembers the Past. 1921: 41.
Toews, John A. A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church: Pilgrims and Pioneers. Winnipeg, MB: Kindred Press, 1975: 41.
Kroeker, Frank F. "The Spiritual Pilgrimage of the Brotherfield M.B. Church." 1978, 23 pp. Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies.
Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren Church, 1898-1986. Waldheim, SK, 1988, 159 pp.
Church records at Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 445. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.
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To cite this page:
MLA style: Epp, J. H. and Marlene Epp. "Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren (Waldheim, Saskatchewan, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. February 1989. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 06 September 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/B767ME.html>
APA style: Epp, J. H. and Marlene Epp. (February 1989). "Brotherfield Mennonite Brethren (Waldheim, Saskatchewan, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 06 September 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/B767ME.html>
