Sherbrooke Mennonite Church, Vancouver, BC Source: MCBC

The Sherbrooke Mennonite Church in Vancouver, British Columbia began services in 1965, and formally organized in 1968. The first building was occupied in 1965. Erwin Cornelsen is considered the founding leader of the group. The congregation originated through church planting by Vancouver First United Mennonite due to the latter's size. In the early years the congregation was German-speaking and made up of many immigrants from the Soviet Union, Germany, and South America. Immigration, primarily from South America, continued through the 1970s and contributed to the congregation's growth. Sherbrooke is the parent church to Peace Mennonite Church in Richmond, which formally organized in 1980.

Sherbrooke organized itself as an independent congregation on 1 January 1968. In 1971 the congregation's pastor, Erwin Cornelsen, was ordained as an elder. In 1973 separate German and English language services were introduced.

By the 1990s the congregation experienced a decline due to the movement of retired members to cities like Abbotsford and the movement of younger families to the Fraser Valley in search of more affordable housing. Ministries to various ethnic groups resulted in the birth of the Vancouver Vietnamese Mennonite Church in 2001, followed by the Sherbrooke Korean Mennonite Fellowship in 2004, with both congregations meeting in the facilities of the parent church.

Bibliography

Additional Information

Address: 7155 Sherbrooke St., Vancouver, BC, V5X 4E3. The church is located on 55th Ave. between Fraser St. and Knight St.

Phone: 604-327-3913

Website: Sherbrooke Mennonite Church

Denominational Affiliation

Mennonite Church British Columbia (1968-present)

Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada (1968-present)

General Conference Mennonite Church (1971-1999)

Sherbrooke Mennonite Church Leading Ministers

Sherbrooke Mennonite Church Membership

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