The Old Colony Mennonite Church of Manitoba was officially organized and founded in 1936 with people who had not migrated to Mexico with the leaders of the Reinländer Mennonite Church.

Old Colony Mennonites immigrated into Canada from Russia in 1875. In 1922 the majority of the church membership of this group, then in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, immigrated into Mexico, including most of the clergy. Occasional services were still held by those ministers who had not moved to Mexico. However in 1927 the Reinläender Mennonite Church which had been founded in 1875, officially ceased to exist in Canada. Later, two ministers who remained in Canada arranged a meeting with the members. They were John Loeppky and Abram Wall, both from the Osler, Saskatchewan area. At this meeting, several of the Manitoba leaders took part. The meeting was held on 20 March 1930 with Bishop Hamm of the Bergthaler Church officiating. Johann Loeppky was elected and ordained as Bishop, and the reorganized church took on the name: "The Old Colony Mennonite Church." After this 1930 meeting Bishop Loeppky came to Manitoba once or twice a year to serve with baptism and communion.

In 1936 the members in Manitoba reorganized to form the Old Colony Church in Manitoba. The first clergy election was held 25 June 1936.

Winkler area towns in Southern Manitoba

The first worship house was in the church building in the village of Chortitz, which had been used by the Reinlaender Mennonite Church from 1881 till the time of the migration to Mexico 1922-1926. A second meeting place was inaugurated 7 November 1937 in Rosetown, Manitoba. A third meeting place began in Blumenfeld where a building was inaugurated 20 October 1938. A fourth meeting place started when the former school in Reinfeld was remodeled. This meeting place was inaugurated 29 September 1957.

The leadership structure of the Old Colony Mennonite Church consists a ministerial body which presents the sermons and is also the governing body that sets policy direction for the membership. The ministerial body consists of the bishop, who is the head of the church, the ministers, and the deacon. The ministers and deacons are elected from the men of the church, and the bishop is elected from the ministerial. The term of office is for as long as the person is capable, and he remains true and faithful to God's word and the Church. There is no salary paid to any ministerial member.

When preaching, the ministers wear black suits and long coats. There are no musical instruments in the Old Colony Mennonite Churches. Singing is usually led by three or more song leaders who lead out in singing. In 2004 the churches used German and some English. The men and women sit on separate sides during the church service. Financial needs are met through voluntary giving when the collectors drive around once a year and personally visit the membership. Special collections are also held for various projects as needed.

In 1939 the baptized membership was 390 with a total of 1,060 souls. In 2001 the baptized membership was 1070 with a total of 2125 souls.

Bibliography

Additional Information

Table 1: Old Colony Mennonite Church (Manitoba) Leaders (as of January 2004)

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