Whitewater Mennonite Church (Boissevain, Manitoba, Canada)
The Whitewater Mennonite congregation at Boissevain, MB began services in 1925, and formally organized in 1927. The first building was occupied in 1939 with a subsequent building program in 1960. Franz F. Enns is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through immigration from the Soviet Union. The Whitewater church had seven branch congregations: Whitewater, Rivers, Ninga, Lena, Crystal City, Manitou, and Mather.
In 1965 there were 230 members; in 1975, 255; in 1985, 265; in 1995, 192; in 2000, 180. The congregation has been affiliated with the Conference of Mennonites in Manitoba, the Conference of Mennonites in Canada (1928), and the General Conference Mennonite Church (1929). The language of worship is English and German; language transition occurred in the 1960s.
The congregation's address is Box 715, Boissevain, MB, R0K 0E0. (204) 534-2996. The church is located at 158 Aberdeen St. Lay Ministers Judith Doell and Wally Kroeker served in 2002 as congregational leaders.
Bibliography
Mennonite Encyclopedia, "Whitewater."
Canadian Mennonite (14 October 1960): 5.
Mennonite Reporter (16 May 1977): 4.
Neufeld, G. G. Die Geschichte der Whitewater Mennoniten Gemeinden in Manitoba, Canada 1925-1965. Altona: D. W. Friesen, 1967, 242 pp.
Peters, Alvin H. "A History of the Whitewater Mennonite Church." Research paper, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 1967, 13 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre.
Dyck, Robert. "The History of the Whitewater Mennnonite Church." Research paper, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 1980, 35 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre.
Tiessen, Valentine. "The Whitewater Mennonite Settlement." Research paper, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 1956, 25 pp. Mennonite Heritage Centre.
History of the Whitewater Mennonite Church, Boissevain, Manitoba, 1927-1987. 1987.
Church records at Mennonite Heritage Centre.
For more information see short history in Mennonites in Canada collection, Mennonite Archives of Ontario.
Additional Information
Whitewater Mennonite Church [broken link]
©1996-2009 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
MLA style: Epp, Marlene. "Whitewater Mennonite Church (Boissevain, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. January 1989. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 04 July 2009 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/W509.html>
APA style: Epp, Marlene. (January 1989). "Whitewater Mennonite Church (Boissevain, Manitoba, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 04 July 2009 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/W509.html>
