Elmira Mennonite Church (Elmira, Ontario, Canada)
Elmira Mennonite Church in Elmira, Ontario, Canada was organized on 31 August 1924, and occupied its first building the same year. Oliver D. Snider is considered the founding leader of the group and served as pastor for the first 12 years. Abraham Gingrich served as bishop during the first years of the congregation's existence. The congregation originated through church planting from the Floradale Mennonite Church.
The original structure was built in 1924. In 1955, an educational wing was added, and in 1976 an entrance with ramps, new washrooms, and a new kitchen, as well as library and classroom space were added. Additional alterations were carried out in 1992, 2009, and 2011.
Elmira is a parent church to Bethel Mennonite at Elora (1947), Hawkesville Mennonite (1950) and Zion Mennonite Fellowship (Elmira) (1987).
Individuals who have led Elmira Mennonite as Deacon, Pastor, Associate Pastor or Interim Pastor are: Oliver D. Snider, Reuben Dettwiler, Aaron Martin, Howard S. Bauman, Edwin Weber, Vernon R. Leis, Maurice Martin, Stephen Dick, Marvin Shank, Douglas Snyder, Gary Knarr, Ray Brubacher, Ken Bechtel, Mary Scheidel, Gordon Alton, Dale Bauman, Ruth Anne Laverty, Winston Martin, Renee Sauder, Johanna Wall, Steven Janzen, Fred Lichti, and Jonathan Brubacher.
Bibliography
Bechtel, Ken. Three Score Years: Elmira Mennonite Church, 1924-1984. Elmira, 1984, 67 p.
Brubacher, Jim. "An Examination of a Recent Schism in the Elmira Congregation." ca. 1970, 6 pp.
Martin, Willard. "History of the Elmira Mennonite Church." 1959, 12 pp.
Mennonite Reporter (16 September 1974): 4.
Archival Records
Congregational archives at Mennonite Archives of Ontario.
Additional Information
Address: 58 Church Street West, Elmira, ON N3B 1N2
Phone: 519-669-5123
Website: Elmira Mennonite Church
Denominational Affiliations:
Mennonite Conference of Ontario (1925-1988)
Mennonite Church Eastern Canada (1988-present)
Conference of Mennonites in Canada / Mennonite Church Canada (1995-present)
Elmira Mennonite Church Pastoral Leaders
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Abraham Gingrich, Bishop | 1924-1938 |
| Oliver Snider | 1924-1967; Bishop 1936-1967 |
| Howard Bauman | 1945-1966 |
| Vernon Leis | 1966-1980 |
| Maurice Martin (Assistant) |
1974-1976 |
| Stephen Dick (Assistant) |
1976-1978 |
| Marvin Shank (Assistant) |
1978-1980 |
| Doug Snyder (Interim) |
1980/81 |
| Gary Knarr (Assistant) |
1980-1983 |
| Ray Brubacher | 1981-1990 |
| Ken Bechtel (Assistant) |
1983-1985 |
| Mary Schiedel (Associate) |
1987-1991 |
| Gord Alton (Associate) |
|
| Dale Bauman | 1990-1999 |
| Ruth Anne Laverty (Associate) |
-2007 |
| Winston Martin (Interim) |
|
| Renee Sauder (Interim) |
2007-2009? |
| Johanna Wall (Interim) |
2009/2010 |
| Steven Janzen | 2000-2012 |
| Fred Lichti | 2010-present |
| Jonathan Brubacher (Associate) |
2012-present |
| Sarah Freeman (Associate) |
2014-present |
Elmira Mennonite Church Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1925 | 60 |
| 1950 | 248 |
| 1965 | 336 |
| 1975 | 240 |
| 1985 | 271 |
| 1995 | 316 |
| 2000 | 332 |
| 2010 | 307 |
Map
Elmira Mennonite Church, Elmira, Ontario
| Author(s) | Howard S. Bauman |
|---|---|
| Sam Steiner | |
| Date Published | July 2000 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Bauman, Howard S. and Sam Steiner. "Elmira Mennonite Church (Elmira, Ontario, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. July 2000. Web. 16 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Elmira_Mennonite_Church_(Elmira,_Ontario,_Canada)&oldid=131978.
APA style
Bauman, Howard S. and Sam Steiner. (July 2000). Elmira Mennonite Church (Elmira, Ontario, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Elmira_Mennonite_Church_(Elmira,_Ontario,_Canada)&oldid=131978.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 190. All rights reserved.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.