Westside Community Church (Morden, Manitoba, Canada)
The Westside Community Church in Morden, Manitoba was first known as Morden Mennonite Brethren Church until its name changed in 1993.
A few Mennonites from Russia settled in Morden in the 1920s. Initially these families attended a local Lutheran Church since its services were conducted in German. In 1929 the Mennonites that were attending the Lutheran church in Morden decided to rent a hall in the town to hold their own services. They had midweek Bible and prayer meetings. In 1930, they became an organized congregation called Morden Mennonite Brethren Church. In 1933 they decided to buy a hall which was much more convenient. They spent thirteen years in that hall and then built a new church in 1946. They stayed in this building for 23 years. There was a youth program that rotated amongst the churches in the town. Each church was in charge of one service a week. Beginning in 1957, the church hosted a radio program for five years. A new church building was constructed in 1969.
The congregation has been affiliated with the Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba (1933-), the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1933-), and the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches (1933-). The language of worship is English; the transition from German occurred in the 1960s.
Congregational leaders have included D. D. Toews (1928-1929), Abe Friesen (1930-1932), F. H. Friesen (1933-1935), J. P. Braun (1935-1943), F. H. Friesen (1943-1965), Wm. Falk (1965-1968), Victor Neufeld (1971-1978), George Braun (1979-1985), Russel Toews (1987- )
In 1950 there were 141 members; in 1965, 160; in 1985, 213; in 1995, 194; in 2000, 198.
The congregation was instrumental in establishing Tabor Home for the elderly in 1952.
831 Thornhill Ave., Morden, MB, R0G 1J0. (204) 822-5172.
Bibliography
Mennonite Brethren Herald (27 May 1988): 40.
Friesen, H. F. Fiftieth Anniversary, Morden Mennonite Brethren Church: Historical Report. Mordon, MB, 1969, 7 pp. Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies.
Toews, John A. A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church: Pilgrims and Pioneers. Fresno, CA, 1975: 162.
Additional Information
©1996-2008 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
To cite this page:
MLA style: Reimer, D.J. and Sam Steiner. "Westside Community Church (Morden, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. May 2002. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 09 July 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/M6704ME.html>
APA style: Reimer, D.J. and Sam Steiner. (May 2002). "Westside Community Church (Morden, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 09 July 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/M6704ME.html>
