Vineland United Mennonite Church (Vineland, ON
The Vineland United Mennonite congregation in Vineland, ON began services in 1927, and formally organized in 1936. The first building was occupied in 1935, with subsequent building programs in 1942 and 1957. John Wichert is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through immigration from the Soviet Union in the 1920s. Prior to the election of the first leaders (beginning with Wichert in 1927) sermons were read from books by someone in the congregation.
Initially Vineland United Mennonite Church worshiped with the Mennonite Brethren. Vineland was part of the Waterloo-Kitchener United Mennonite organization until 1936.
In 1950 there were 258 members; in 1965, 368; in 1975, 423; in 1985, 423; in 1995, 359; in 2000, 351. The congregation has been affiliated with the Conference of United Mennonite Churches of Ontario (1936-1988), Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada (1937-), the General Conference Mennonite Church (1938-1999) and Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (1988-). The language of worship is English; the transition from German occurred in 1971. German services ended in December 2003.
Leading ministers since 1936 have included John J. Wichert (1927-1966; Bishop, 1944-1966), Cornelius K. Neufeld (1929-1938), Nicholai N. Fransen (1929-2000), Dietrich H. Koop (Bishop, 1931-1944), Jacob K. Klassen (1965-1973), Henry H. Epp (1974-1976), Jacob Fransen (Ordained, 1958; Interim pastor, 1977-1978), John W. Neufeld (Ordained 1954; Leading minister, 1978-1984), Jacob Fransen (Interim, 1984/85), Peter Ratzlaff (1985-1991), David Brubacher (1991-1999), Marvin Friesen (1999-2004), Randy Dueck (2005- )
The congregation's address is 3327 Menno St., Box 305, Vineland, ON, L0R 2C0. (905) 562-4422.
Bibliography
Canadian Mennonite (3 January 1958): 7; (12 July 1966): 16.
Stobbe, Bernard. "Ein Geschichtlicher Ueberblick ueber die drei Gemeinden der Vereinigten Mennoniten in der Niagara Halbinsel." Research paper, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 1956, 20 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre.
Fuenfundzwanzig Jahre Vineland Mennoniten Gemeinde 1936-1961. Vineland, ON: Vineland Vereinigte Mennonitengemeinde, 1961, 58 pp.
Fransen, Harold. "The History of the Vineland Mennonite Church." Research paper, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 1977, 25 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre.
Highlights of the Vineland United Mennonite Church 1936-1986: Reflect, Rejoice, Renew. Vineland, ON: Vineland United Mennonite Church, 1986, 92 pp.
Neufeld, Peter J. "Vineland UM Church History with Ministerial and Mission Outreach Data." Conference of United Mennonite Churches in Ontario Yearbook (1987).
Church records at Mennonite Archives of Ontario.
Additional Information
©1996-2008 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
To cite this page:
MLA style: Wichert, John J. and Marlene Epp. "Vineland United Mennonite Church (Vineland, ON." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. January 1989. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 July 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/V5542ME.html>
APA style: Wichert, John J. and Marlene Epp. (January 1989). "Vineland United Mennonite Church (Vineland, ON." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 24 July 2008 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/V5542ME.html>
