(c)Mennonite Heritage Centre 2003
Last updated 27 February 2019

Mennonite Heritage Centre Archives
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Title: Zoar Mennonite Church (Langham) fonds
Dates: 1958-1997, 2002-2017
Extent: 32 cm of textual records

Historical note

Mennonites had arrived in the Langham area at the turn of the 20th century mainly from Kansas, Minnesota and the Dakotas. The Zoar Mennonite Church was first organized with fourteen families in Langham in 1910. They built their own meeting house in 1911. Another congregation was organized in the Waldheim area with their own meeting house in 1911. Initially the two congregations (Langham and Waldheim) were under one organization. This church joined the Conference of Mennonites in 1914. The membership was 140 in 1931. In 1943 the meeting house was expanded. In 1952 the membership was 195. In 1954 the building was expanded in part because the Bethesda Mennonite Church had dissolved in 1948 and many of its members joined the Zoar congregation in Langham. In 1960 it was again expanded. In 1968 the membership was 168. In 1974 the building was again expanded. The membership was 183 in 1983. In 2000 the membership stood at 153. The leaders of the congregation were: Nicholas Toews (1910-1914), Henry Wiebe (1915-1923), John G. Rempel (1923-1935), William Buhr (1935-1937), Jacob Nickel (1937-1952, 1954), Gerhard Zacharias (1951), Hans Dyck (1952-1953), Henry Wiens (1954-1965), Doris and David Friesen (1966-1970) Ruben Siemens (1971-1973), Ray Wahl (1974-1977), Katie and John Friesen (1977-1984), Abe Baergen (1985), Henry Wiens (1986-1988), Garry Janzen (1989-1999), Herman Wiebe (2000- ).

Scope and content note

This fonds consists of newspaper clippings, brief congregational histories, bulletins, annual reports, directories, and other reports which pertain to the founding and development of the Mennonite congregation in Langham, Saskatchewan. It documents the leaders and participants in the congregation. There are newspaper clippings (1980-1984), congregational histories (1960, 1970), bulletins (1958-1997, 2002-2017), annual reports (1975-1992, 1994, 2005-2008, 2010, 2012-2014, 2016-2017), directories (1978-1994), and other reports (1984).

Finding aids

Inventory file list available.

Notes

Restrictions on access

No restrictions on access.

Other notes

Textual records have been deposited on a regular basis by the congregation at the Mennonite Heritage Centre. Described by Bert Friesen 6 March 2002. Updated by Selenna Wolfe 27 February 2019. 

Zoar Mennonite Church (Langham) fonds file list:

Volume 80
  1. Zoar Mennonite Church newspaper clippings (1980-1984) which includes funeral programmes and obituaries
  2. Zoar Mennonite Church obituaries (1937, 1977)
  3. Zoar Mennonite Church congregational history (1960), diamond anniversary programme which includes a historical sketch (1970)
  4. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1958)
  5. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1959)
  6. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1960)
  7. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1961)
  8. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1962)
  9. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1963)
  10. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1966, 1968, 1972)
  11. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1973-1974)
  12. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1975), annual reports (1975)
  13. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1976), annual reports (1976)
  14. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1977), annual reports (1977), directory (1978)

Volume 81
  1. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1978), annual reports (1978), directory 1979)
  2. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1979), annual reports (1979), directory (1980)
  3. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1980), annual reports (1980), directory (1981)
  4. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1981), conference report (1981), annual reports (1981), directory (1982)
  5. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1982)
  6. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1983)
  7. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1984), building financial progress report ([1984])
  8. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1985)

Volume 2951

  1. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1986)
  2. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1987), annual reports (1987)
  3. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1988), annual reports (1988)
  4. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1989), annual reports (1989)
  5. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1990)
  6. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1991), annual reports (1991)
  7. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1992), annual reports (1992)
  8. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1993), directory ([1993])
  9. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1994), annual report book (1994)

Volume 4452
  1. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1995), directory (1994)
  2. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1996), directory (1996)
  3. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (1997)
  4. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2002)
  5. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2003)
  6. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2004)
  7. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2005); 2005 Annual Report book
  8. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2006); 2006 Annual Report book; 2006 Church Council minutes; 2006 Congregational Meeting minutes; 2006 Trustee and Finance Meeting Minutes; 2006 Mission & Service Committee Meeting minutes; 2006 Worship and Advisory committee Meeting minutes; 2006 Homemaker's Meeting minutes; 2006 First Ladie's Aid Meeting minutes
Volume 5411
  1. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2007); 2007 Annual Report book; 2007 Trustee and Finance Committee Meeting minutes; 2007 Worship Committee Meeting minutes; 2007 Homemakers Meeting minutes; 2007 Missions/Hosting Committee Meeting minutes; 2007 First Ladies Aid Meeting minutes;
  2. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2008); 2008 Annual Report book; 2008 Church Council Meeting minutes; 2008 Mission & Hosting Committee Meeting minutes; 2008 Trustee and Finance Committee Meeting minutes; 2008 Worship Committee Meeting minutes; 2008 Homemaker's Fellowship Meeting minutes; 2008 First Ladie's Aid Meeting minutes; 2008 Homemakers's Fellowship Meeting minutes
  3. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2009); pictoral directory (ca. 1977-84); 2009 Annual Meeting minutes; 2009 Worship Committee Meeting minutes; 2009 Church Council Meeting minutes; 2009 Mission & Service Meeting minutes; 2009 Trustee & Finance Meeting minutes; 2009 First Ladies' Aid meeting minutes; 2009 Homemakers Fellowship meeting minutes
  4. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2010); 2010 Annual Report book; 2010 Mission & Service Committee meeting minutes; 2010 Worship Committee meeting minutes; 2010 Church Council Meeting Minutes;  2010 Trustee and Finance Committee Meeting minutes; 2010 First Ladie's Aid meeting minutes; 2010 Homemakers Fellowship Meeting minutes
  5. Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2011); First Ladies Aid (2011); Worship Committee meeting minutes (2011); Trustee and Finance Report (2011); Congregational Meeting Minutes (2011); Homemaker's Fellowship Meeting minutes (2011); Mission/Service Committee meeting minutes (2011); Annual Report Book (2010)
Volume 5810
1.  Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2012); Homemaker's Fellowship (2012); Church Council & Congregational Meeting minutes (2012); Mission & Service meeting minutes (2012); Trustee and Finance Committee meeting minutes (2012); Worship Committee meeting minutes (2012); First Ladies' Aid (2012); Annual Report book (2012)

2.  Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2013); Church Council meeting minutes (2013); Trustee and Finance meeting minutes (2013); Worship Committee meeting minutes (2013); Mission, Service and Hosting Committee meeting minutes (2013); Homemakers' Fellowship meeting minutes (2013); First Ladies' Aid (2013); Annual Meeting minutes (2013); annual report book 2013

3.  Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2014); annual report book (2014); church council meeting minutes (2014); congregational meeting minutes (2014); trustee and finance committee meeting minutes (2014); worship committee meeting minutes (2014);  Mission & Service and Hosting Committee meeting minutes (2014); Homemaker's Fellowship Meeting minutes (2014)

4.  Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2015); Church Council Minutes (2015); Annual Meeting Minutes (2015); Mission, Service and Hosting Committee Meeting Minutes (2015); Homemakers Fellowship Meeting Minutes (2015)

5.  Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2016), Congregational Meeting minutes, Church Council Meetings minutes; Trustee and Finance meeting minutes; Worship Committee Meeting minutes, Mission, Service and Hosting committee Meeting minutes; Homemakers Fellowship Meeting minutes; 2016 annual report book

Volume 6387
1.  Zoar Mennonite Church bulletins (2017); annual report (2017)

Microfilm

Microfilm No. 432 (MHC Project No. 144)

  1. Brotherhood Meeting Minutes, Nov. 20, 1910-October 18, 1915. Notebook, no page numbers, handwritten, German, Gothic script.
  2. Zoar Mennonite Church Registers, 1910-1985.
    1. Zoar Mennonite Church Register; 156 pp., handwritten, German, Latin and Gothic scripts. Started and used in the church's early history, 1910-1925.
    2. Zoar Mennonite Church Register, 154 pp., handwritten, German, regular recording of baptisms. Baptisms recorded from 1925-1952 (pp. 97-140). Includes records of services 1926-1935.
    3. Zoar Mennonite Church Register, 193 pp., handwritten, German and English, Latin script. "Kirchenbuch II. Band der Zoar Mennonitengemeinde zu Langham, SK. Angefangen am 12. Oktober 1946." Started in 1946. Baptisms recorded from 1947-1977 (pp. 139-156).
    4. Zoar Mennonite Church Register, Membership Cards, 6"x8", typewritten, English. Started ca. 1977.
  3. Bethesda Mennonite Church Register, 308 pp., handwritten, German, Latin and Gothic script. Used from about 1910-1945 when church closed down and most members joined the Zoar church.
  4. Jugendverein and Christian Endeavour (1953-1965) Meetings, 1919-1965.
    1. Minutes, 1919-1921. Notebook, 94 pp., handwritten, German, Gothic script.
    2. Minutes, 1943-1946. Notebook, no pagination, handwritten, German, Latin script.

Microfilm No. 433 (MHC Project No. 144)

  1. Jugendverein and Christian Endeavour (1953-1965) Meetings, 1919-1965.
    1. Minutes, 1946-1958. Record book, 200 pp., handwritten, German and English, Latin script.
    2. Minutes, 1958-1965. Notebook, no pagination, handwritten, English.
  2. Statistical Reports for General Conference Mennonite Church and Conference of Mennonites in Canada, 1923-1985. Includes 1983 Youth, Student, and Young Adult Census. Typed and handwritten loose papers ranging from 1 to 6 pages, German from 1964-1985, Gothic and Latin script.
  3. Sunday School records, 1943-1983.
    1. Sunday School. Offerings and Expenditures, 1943-1953. Notebook, no pagination, ahndwritten, German and English, Latin script.
    2. Sunday School "...Collections and expenditures From June 8, 1952 to January 13, 1959." Notebook, no pagination, handwritten, English.
    3. Sunday School. "Offerings and Expenditures...January 29, 1958 to December 31, 1981." Notebook, no pagination, handwritten, English.
    4. Sunday School. Class and Attendance Registers, 1947-1983. Notebooks, no pagination, handwritten, English.
      1. "Zoar S.S. Book." 1947-1971.
      2. "Meigs' S.S. Secretary's Record No. N." September, 1973-1974.
      3. "Meigs' S.S. Secretary's Record No. N." September, 1974 - July, 1975.
      4. "Meigs' S.S. Secretary's Record No. N." September, 1976 - August, 1977.
      5. "Meigs' S.S. Secretary's Record No. N." September, 1977 - August, 1978.
      6. "Meigs' S.S. Secretary's Record No. 1" September, 1979 - May, 1980.
      7. "Warner Secretary's Record" September, 1980 - August, 1981.
      8. "Warner Secretary's Record" September, 1981 - August, 1982.
      9. "Warner Secretary's Record" September, 1982 - August, 1983.
    5. Sunday School Report for Canadian Board of Education and Publication. 1964-1969. 5 loose pages, handwritten, English.
    6. Zoar Sunday S.S. Register. 1971-1975. 5 loose pages, typed, English.
  4. Young People's Felloship, 1947-1981. Notebooks, no pagination, Handwritten, English.
    1. Programs and minutes, 1947-1955.
    2. Program and minutes, 1954-1956.
    3. Secretary-'treasurer' minutes, 1980-1981.
  5. Constitutions, 1949, 1960, 1969, 1969 including revisions, 1981. Booklets, typewritten, paginated, English and German (1949).
  6. Men's Club Minutes, 1957-1972. Notebooks, no pagination, handwritten, English.
    1. Minutes, 1957-1959.
    2. Minutes, 1959-1967.
    3. Minutes, 1967-1972.
  7. Correspondence to and from Rev. Henry A. Wiens, 1959-1962. Loose pages, 5 pp., typewritten, English and German.
  8. Church Secretary minutes, 1958-1985.
    1. Church secretary minutes, 1958-1960. Includes congregational minutes, financial statements, reports, correspondence, church council, and 50th anniversary committee. Loose typed and handwritten minutes, no pagination, German and English.
    2. Church Secretary minute book, 1961-1970. Notebook, no pagination, handwritten, English.
    3. Newsletter, 1963-1969, and some budget items and reports on loose pages. Mimeographed pages, no pagination, typewritten, English. Loose pages handwritten and typewritten.
    4. Church Secretary minute book, 1971-1973. Includes Annual Reports, congregational meeting minutes, Trustee and Finance Board minutes, church and council minutes. Loose typed pages in binder, no pagination, English.
    5. Church Secretary minute book, 1974-1976. Contains same as 'd)' above, and includes some correspondence. Loose typed pages in binder, no pagination, English.
    6. Church Secretary minute book, 1977-1978. Contains same as 'd)' above plus Handbook (1978) and some correspondence. Loose typed pages in binder, no pagination, English.
    7. Church Secretary minute book, 1979-1981. Contains same as 'f)'. Loose typed pages in binder, no pagination, English.
    8. Church secretary's copy, L. Mierau. Loose typewritten pages in 3 ring binder, organized chronologically, no pagination, English.

Microfilm No. 434 (MHC Project No. 144)

  1. Church Secretary minutes, 1958-1985.
    1. Church secretary's copy, L. Mierau. Loose typewritten pages in 3 ring binder, organized chronologically, no pagination, English.
    2. Handbook 1985. Booklet, paginated, typewritten, English.
  2. First Ladies Aid, 1960-1985.
    1. Minutes, 1960-1985. Notebooks, no pagination, handwritten, English.
      1. Minutes November 9, 1960 - May 15, 1963., includes some financial reports.
      2. Minutes November 13, 1963 - October 5, 1966.
      3. Minutes October 27, 1966 - November 18, 1969, includes some financial records.
      4. Minutes June 19, 1973 - June 9, 1976.
      5. Minutes August 17, 1976 - October 10, 1979.
      6. Minutes November 14, 1979 - August 10, 1983.
      7. Minutes September 14, 1983 - February 27, 1985.
    2. Birthday and Anniversary Book. Lists of women first involved in the First Ladies Aid, 1911-1912 as recorded by Lil Epp, 1983. Notebook, no pagination, handwritten, English.
    3. Annual Program Books, 1973-1984. These booklets list monthly activities; themes with membership directory. Booklet, no pagination, typed, English.
    4. Financial Records, 1973-1954. Notebooks, no pagination, handwritten, English.
      1. Records, 1944-1954. Includes some photographs of women presenting at Ladies' Aid conference, 1948 and 1952 First Ladies' Aid group. (some German)
      2. Records, 1954-1966. Includes list of members who passed away.
      3. Records, 1966-1973.
      4. Records, 1973-1979. Consists of 3-5 pages for each year.
    5. Annual Repots on Budget and Activities and committee members, 1972, 1974, 1977-1980, loose sheets, typed copies, no pagination, English.
  3. South Ladies Aid (1966-ca.1967) and Goodwill Ladies Aid, ca. 1968-1984. Notebooks, no pagination, handwritten, English.
    1. Minutes, 1966-1969.
    2. Minutes, 1969-1971.
    3. Minutes, 1972-1977.
    4. Minutes, 1977- March 5, 1985.
    5. Yearly Program Booklets, 1973, 1975, 1980-1984, and three booklets with no date. Booklets and loose pages, no pagination, typed, mimeographed, English.
  4. Langham Mission Lilies, 1960-1965. Minutes, 1960-1965. Notebook, no pagination, handwritten, English.
  5. Homemaker's Fellowship, 1970-1980. Notebooks, no pagination, handwritten, English.
    1. Minutes, 1970-1975.
    2. Minutes, 1976-1980.
  6. Board of Education Minutes, 1961-1985.
    1. Minutes, 1961-1968. Notebook, no pagination, handwritten, English.
    2. Minutes, 1968-1971. Notebook, no pagination, handwritten, English.
    3. Minute Book, 1971-1981. Notebook, no pagination, handwritten, English.
    4. Minutes, 1979-1984. Typed and mimeographed loose pages in Manila folder, entitled "Education Committee", no pagination, English.
    5. Financial record book, 1982-1985. Loose pages in 3 ring binder, no pagination.
  7. Mission Board minutes, 1962-1985. Notebooks, no pagination, handwritten, English.
    1. Minutes, 1962-1973.
    2. Minutes, 1973-1979.
    3. Minutes (Mission and Service Committee, 1982- ), 1980-1984.
    4. Minutes, 1984 - March 7, 1985.
    5. Minutes, 1978 - January 9, 1985. Loose handwritten and typed pages in Manila folder, no pagination, English.

Microfilm No. 435 (MHC Project No. 144)

  1. Girl's club, 1967-1977. Notebooks, no pagination, handwritten, English.
    1. Attendance record, minutes, and finances, 1967-1971.
    2. Financial records, 1968-1971.
    3. Financial records and minute book, 1972-1977.
  2. Refugee Assistance Program meetin minutes, 1980-1981. Notebook, no pagination, handwritten, English.
  3. History Books and Obituary, 1960, 1970, and 1977 (obituary).
    1. 50th Anniversary, 1910-1960, Zoar Mennonite Church, Langham, Saskatchewan. No printer or publisher mentioned, no date, 24p.
    2. Diamond Jubilee, Zoar Mennonite Church, August 23, 1970. Mimeographed pages, 13p. plus 3p. membership list. Typed, English.
    3. Obituary of Rev. J.J. Nickel (1886-1977). From files at Mennonite Heritage Center, Vol. 81. 2p.

Microfilm No. 424 (MHC Project No. 155)

  1. Family Register
  2. Constitution 1990
  3. Statistical Reports
  4. Mission and Service Committee 1984-1990
  5. Homemakers Fellowship 1979-1990
  6. H.F. Minutes 1980-1989
  7. Education Committee 1985-1989
  8. Good Will Ladies Aid Minutes 1977-1989
  9. First Ladies Aid Minutes 1982-1990
  10. Church Secretary's Minutes 1985-1986
  11. Annual Reports 1986-1989
  12. Sunday School 1982-1989
  13. Miscellaneous
    1. Young Teens Attendance
    2. Girls Club Attendance

Microfilm No. 710 (MHC Project No. 162)

  1. Annual Meetings, Church Council, Trustees & Finance committee reports and minutes, 1991-1995.
  2. Family Register.
  3. Trustee & Finance minutes, 1991-1995.
  4. Financial Ledgers, 1990-1995.
  5. Education Committee minutes, 1990-1993.
  6. Worship Committee minutes, 1993-1996.
  7. Youth Committee minutes, 1991-1992.
  8. Sunday School Teachers/Committee minutes, 1990-1995.
  9. Sunday School Financial statements, 1990-1995.
  10. Hosting Committee minutes, 1992-1995.
  11. First Ladies Aid minutes, 1982-1996.
  12. Goodwill Ladies Aid minutes, 1985-1995.
  13. Homemaker's Fellowship minutes, 1989-1996.
  14. First Ladies Aid Financial statements, 1990-1995.
  15. Homemaker's Fellowship financial ledger, 1990-1995.

Microfilm No. 805 (MHC Project No. 164)

  1. Annual reports and annual meeting minutes, 1996-2000.
  2. Church Council, congregational meeting minutes and church council appointments lists, 1996-2000.
  3. Trustee & Finance committee meeting minutes, 1996-2000.
  4. Church Register:
    1. Record of Baptisms, 1998-2000.
    2. Record of Children Born and Dedicated, 1998-2000.
    3. Record of Marriages, 1998-2000.
    4. Record of Deaths, 1999-2000.
    5. Family Register, as of 2000.
  5. Homemakers Fellowship minutes, 1996-2000.
  6. Homemakers Fellowship financial ledger, 1996-1999.
  7. Sunday School committee and Sunday School teachers meeting minutes, August 1995-December 2000.
  8. Sunday School financial statements, 1996-2000.
  9. First Ladies Aid minutes, January 10, 1996-March 15, 2001.
  10. First Ladies Aid financial statements, 1996-2000.
  11. Mission & Service committee minutes, 1992-2000.
  12. Financial ledgers, January 1996-October 22, 2000.
  13. General ledger (computer print-out), 1997-2000.

Microfilm No. 1365 (Project No. 165, 166, 167)

1.  Zoar Mennonite Church annual reports - 2001-2005
2.  Zoar Mennonite Church council meeting minutes - 2001-2005
3.  Zoar Mennonite Church Trustees and Finance meeting minutes - 2001-2003, 2005
4.  Zoar Mennonite Church Homemaker's Meeting minutes - 2001-2005
5.  First Ladies Aid minutes - 1997-2003
6.  First Ladies Aid minutes - 2004-2007
7.  Sunday School committee minutes - 2001-2005