South Abbotsford Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)
The South Abbotsford Mennonite Brethren congregation in Abbotsford, BC began services in 1931, and formally organized on 1 May 1932. The first building was occupied in 1936, with subsequent building programs in 1954 and 1995. Abram D. Rempel is considered the founding leader of the group; he continued in office until 1945. The congregation originated through colonization from the Canadian Prairies.
Henry H. Nikkel followed A. D. Rempel as congregational leader. Other leaders prior to 1960 included Frank Janzen, Franz C. Thiessen, Jacob F. Redekop, Jacob Wedel, Jacob Bargen, Isaak Janzen, Herman Voth and John J. Stobbe.
The congregation lost members to Matsqui Mennonite Brethren (1944), East Aldergrove Mennonite Brethren (1947), Otter Road Mennonite Brethren (1947), Central Heights Mennonite Brethren (1949), Bakerview Mennonite Brethren (1966), and King Road Mennonite Brethren (1966).
The Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute (later Columbia Bible Institute, now Columbia Bible College) was begun in 1943 in the facilities of South Abbotsford Mennonite Brethren Church. Also, in 1944, the Mennonite Educational Institute was first housed in this church.
In 1932 there were 31 members; in 1950, 500; in 1965, 357; in 1975, 282; in 1985, 386; in 1995, 475; in 2000, 611. The congregation has been affiliated with the British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches and the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches since 1935. The language of worship is English; the transition from German occurred in the 1960s.
The congregation's address is 32424 Huntingdon Rd., R.R.5, Abbotsford, BC, V2T 5Z1. (604) 853-2663. The church is located at Huntingdon and Columbia Roads. Pastor Steve Berg served in 2002 as a congregational leader.
Bibliography
Mennonite Brethren Herald (6 February 1987): 14; (27 May 1988): 23; (11 August 1995): 20.
Canadian Mennonite (8 October 1954): 1; (22 June 1956): 8; (24 November 1961): 15.
Willms, H. J. Die Sued-Abbotsford Ansiedlung, Abbotsford, B.C.: historischer Bericht. 1955, 55 p.
Stobbe, Abe J. South Abbotsford Mennonite Brethren Church: a history from 1932-1982. Abbotsford, BC: South Abbotsford Mennonite Brethren Church, 1982, 112 pp.
Additional Information
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To cite this page:
MLA style: Nickel, H.H. "South Abbotsford Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1958. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 May 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/S671ME.html>
APA style: Nickel, H.H. (1958). "South Abbotsford Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 May 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/S671ME.html>
