Historic Sites of Manitoba: Mennonite Brethren Church / Blessings Church (621 College Avenue, Winnipeg)

Link to:
Clerics | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

This church on College Avenue in Winnipeg was built by the North End Mennonite Brethren congregation in 1929, with the congregation commissioning this $8,000 structure to replace their former quarters at 533 Burrows Avenue. Opened in 1930, their outreach included a site on Maple Street, another in North Kildonan, and a Sunday School in Brooklands. In time, the congregation outgrew this location and, in 1954, completed the construction of Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church at 145 Henderson Highway. The building was used by several church organizations and is presently (2019) occupied by the Blessings Church.

Clerics

Period	Cleric
Before 1930	See North End Mennonite Brethren Church
1930-1936	Cornelius Nikolai Hiebert (1881-1975)
1936-1939	Franz F. Isaak
1939-1943	Franz C. Thiessen (1881-1950)
1943-1949	B. B. Fast
1949-1953	David K. Duerksen
1953-1954	I. W. Redekopp

Photos & Coordinates

Christian Reformed Church (c1970) Source: Archives of Manitoba, Archives of Manitoba photo collection, Architectural Survey - Winnipeg - College Avenue - Sheet 1 - No. 12/70 Blessings Church (January 2019) Source: George Penner Blessings Church (October 2019) Source: Nathan Kramer Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.92360, W97.14466 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: North End Mennonite Brethren Church / European Meat and Sausage Building (533 Burrows Avenue, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church (145 Henderson Highway, Winnipeg)

Sources:

City of Winnipeg Building Permit 5155/1929, City of Winnipeg Archives.

“Permits issued today for dozen new dwellings,” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 October 1929, page 3.

“Mennonites to hold Bible-reading session,” Winnipeg Tribune, 12 December 1930, page 3.

“Mennonite Brethren have new church,” Manitoba Free Press, 13 December 1930, page 30.

Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church, by I. W. Redekopp and Richard D. Thiessen, Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online, March 2022.

Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.

This page was prepared by George Penner and Nathan Kramer.

Page revised: 30 April 2023

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