West Zion Mennonite Church (Carstairs, Alberta, Canada)
The West Zion Mennonite congregation at Carstairs, AB began services and formally organized in 1901. The first building was occupied in 1902, with a subsequent building program in 1932. Israel R. Shantz is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through colonization of Alberta from Ontario.
The first Mennonite to settle in the Carstairs-Didsbury area was Andrew Weber, who came from Ontario in 1894. The main settlement was made in April 1901. The congregation was unusual for its time, as half the membership in the 1950s was of British descent.
In 1925 there were 35 members; in 1950, 78; in 1965, 68; in 1975, 59; in 1985, 58; in 1995, 73; in 2000 82. The congregation has been affiliated with the Northwest Mennonite Conference (1903-) and the Mennonite Church. The language of worship is English.
Ministers who served prior to 1960 included Israel R. Shantz, Amos Weber, Moses H. Schmitt, Noah R. Weber, Henry Weber, Allan Good, Norman Buschert, Alvin Steckly, Abe Reist, Ezra Stauffer, Linford Hackman, Henry J. Harder and Gordon Buschert.
The congregation's address is Box 626, Carstairs, AB, T0M 0N0. (403) 337-2020. The church is located 1.5 km north, 6 km west, 1.5 km, 0.5 km east. Minister Trevor Kiriaka served in 2006 as a congregational leader.
Bibliography
Stauffer, Ezra. History of the Alberta-Saskatchewan Mennonite Conference. 1960: 36.
Additional Information
West Zion Mennonite Church website
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 930. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.
©1996-2009 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
MLA style: Stauffer, Ezra and Marlene Epp. "West Zion Mennonite Church (Carstairs, Alberta, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. July 1986. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 08 November 2009 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/W4768ME.html>
APA style: Stauffer, Ezra and Marlene Epp. (July 1986). "West Zion Mennonite Church (Carstairs, Alberta, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 08 November 2009 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/W4768ME.html>
