Tavistock Mennonite Church (Tavistock, ON)

Classification scheme:

V-7

Title:ÌýTavistock Mennonite Church fonds

Dates of creation:Ìý1943-2009
Note:ÌýFurther accruals are expected

Physical description:Ìý1.4 m of textual records

Administrative history:ÌýThis congregation was formed in 1942 by theÌýEast Zorra Amish Mennonite Church. East Zorra was becoming overcrowded, and a number of members lived in the town of Tavistock. For almost eight years the new congregation met in a Presbyterian Church; it completed its own building in 1950, located at 131 Wettlaufer Street. A major renovation was completed in 1998.

Custodial history:ÌýAccessions have been received from time to time, with some materials coming almost annually.

Scope and content:ÌýFormal and informal records of the congregation, bulletins and newsletters.

±·´Ç³Ù±ð²õ:ÌýSee also Tavistock related items inÌýSound RecordingsÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýVideo Recordings.ÌýAny photographs related to this congregation can be found inÌýHist.Mss.10.
For further information see Fred Lichti,ÌýA history of the East Zorra Amish Mennonite ChurchÌý(Tavistock, Ont. : The Church, 1977) and Wray L. Bender and D. Catherine Bender,ÌýA history of the Tavistock Mennonite Church, 1992).
Original description created December 1998 by Sam Steiner.

Series 1: Formal records

Vol. 1 - Early

  1. ÌýHistorian's records, 1972-1992
  2. ÌýAnnual meeting minute book, 1964-1973 (minutes from 1963/64 re: division of church structures from East Zorra Mennonite Church laid in)
  3. ÌýSunday school Treasurer's book, 1943-1970/71
  4. ÌýYoung People's Bible Meeting Treasurer's book, 1964-1979
  5. ÌýTavistock Sewing Circle Book, 1953-1955
  6. ÌýTavistock Sewing Circle Book, 1956-1958
  7. ÌýSummer Bible School record, 1951

Vol. 2Ìý - Church Council (1964-), Commissions and Annual Meetings
Note: file numbers in this list differ from file numbers on folders.

  1. Church Council minutes
    1964-1994
  2. Church Council/Administrative Council, annual and congregational meeting minutes,Ìý1995-2023
    Note: Includes ad hoc re-entry committee minutes, 2020
  3. Annual meeting reports and/or minutes, 1964, 1967-1971, 1973-1994 (see #2 above for later reports/minutes)
  4. Worship Commission / Word & Worship Ministries, 1979-2009, 2010 (some missing), 2011-2023
  5. Facilities Review Committee, 1993-1995
  6. Mission & Service Commission / Witness and Service, 1987-2001, 2003-2023
  7. Finance Commission / Finance & Administration, 1987-2009, 2011-2015, 2017, Apr 2021
  8. Education and Nurture Commission, 1987-2005
  9. Fellowship Commission, 1988-1992, 1996-1999
  10. Congregational profile, 1988, 1994
  11. Anniversary Committee, 1991
  12. Pastoral Review, 1998
  13. Ministerial Committee, 1977-1978
  14. Committee to Study Growth, 1975-1978
  15. Young Adult census, 1982, 1988
  16. Elders, 2002
  17. Personnel, 2005
  18. Handbook for Church Organization, 2006
  19. Refugee Support Group, 2015
  20. Women's groups
    Willing Workers, 1963-1969
    Senior WMSA, 1967-1977
    WMSC/GMSA, 1962-Aug 1982
  21. Scheduling committee for nursing homes, 1969-1982
  22. Congregational structures
  23. Vision and Action Team, 2013, 2015, 2016
  24. Vacation Bible School, 2010, 2012, 2017
  25. Ad hoc re-entry committee, 2020-
    Note: contains meeting minutes regarding COVID-19 safety measures
  26. Policies and procedures, 2016

Series 2: Informal records, books, memorabilia

Vol. 1

  1. ÌýAlvin Ramseyer, "History of the Tavistock Mennonite Church," 1972
  2. ÌýWray L. Bender and D. Catherine Bender,ÌýA history of the Tavistock Mennonite Church 1942-1992 (Tavistock, Ont. : The Church, 1992)
  3. Ìý50thÌýanniversary celebrations June 5-7, 1992 (Videotape - VHS format)
  4. ÌýChurch directories, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2012, 2018
  5. ÌýDas Neue TestamentÌý(Berlin, 1914) (Mrs. Solomon M. Bender's copy)
  6. ÌýJ. H. Ingreham,ÌýDer F?st aus Davids HauseÌý(Konstanz : Karl Hirsch) (Fanny Bender's copy)
  7. ÌýDas Neue TestamentÌý(C?n, 1885)
  8. 75th anniversary celebrations, 2017
  9. Gordon Bauman, "Connecting Through Stories," March 2015

Vol. 2 - Scrapbooks

  1. 50thÌýanniversary scrapbook of families, 1992
  2. Album of families, 1981
  3. Congregational guest book, 1969-1998
  4. Historian's books, 1959-1992, 1992-1993, 1993-1994, 1994-1995, 1995-1996, 2009-2022
    Note: Contains news clippings of people related to the congregation.

Series 3: Bulletins

1950-2022

Series 4: Newsletter

  1. T.M.C.ÌýChurch Chat, 1994-1995
  2. Calendars, 2007-2009, 2010 (partial), 2011-2013
  3. The Dwelling Place, 2013-Nov.2020

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