Historical Sketch: Clearbrook Mennonite Church*

During the late-1940s and early-1950s, West Abbotsford Mennonite Church experienced significant growth. By 1952 the sanctuary was filled to capacity on many Sunday mornings. The congregation decided to build a daughter church in Clearbrook. Abraham H. Loeppky donated a lot on the corner of Clearbrook and Peardonville roads. West Abbotsford agreed to help finance the new structure and to draw up a list of people from the church interested in starting a new church. Clearbrook Realty and Insurance Agency sold the lot to the church for $1.00, and the sanctuary, built with much volunteer labour, cost $12,000.

Clearbrook Mennonite Church was formally organized on December 8, 1952 with 60 members. Abram I. Loewen, a minister at West Abbotsford, was the first pastor of the church. By January 1954 the membership had grown to around 120, and by 1965, over 200 members. The church was reluctant to relinquish the German language, and, in 1960, 52 people left to form a new English speaking church, Olivet Mennonite Church. The church, however, soon recovered and by 1963 had 213 members.

By 1972 almost 70% of the congregation was over 60 and by 1978 almost 95% of the members were retired. The church continued to attract older members moving into the Clearbrook/Abbotsford area until the 1990s, when attendance began to decline. A strong emphasis on the German language remains. By 2011, the membership had declined to under 50 with a weekly attendance of between 36 and 42. After continuing decline, the church held its last service in 2015.

Abram Loewen, who also owned a bookstore in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, led this congregation from 1953 to 1957. Hugo & Susanne Scheffler, German immigrants who lived in Bellingham, Washington, served from 1957 to 1963. Walter & Annie Thieleman had come from Paraguay and during their ministry the membership of the Clearbrook Mennonite Church increased. With Walter’s musical talents, the church was richly blessed during their ministry, which lasted from 1989 to 1995. Hans Federau, also with Paraguan roots, and wife Alice brought a seasoned, pastoral presence to the congregation. During their ministry the Wellspring Christian Fellowship was invited to use the church building for their Saturday worship services. Siegbert Zukowski started his ministry after them.

The motto of the Clearbrook Mennonite Church was taken from Psalm 102: “Worship the Lord with gladness.” The main emphasis in the church was worship and fellowship and the congregation’s greatest strength was prayer and financial support of conference programs. The Clearbrook Mennonite Church was affiliated with both Mennonite Church B.C. and Mennonite Church Canada.

Picture Below:  Clearbrook Mennonite Church as it looked in 1968.

Picture Below:  Clearbrook Mennonite Church as it looked in 2012.

Pastors and years of ministry

PASTOR YEARS
Abram I. Loewen 1952-1957
Hugo Scheffler 1957-1963
John L. Zacharias (interim)  1963-1964
John J. Sawatzky 1964-1972
Jacob C. Schmidt 1972
Jacob Enns 1973-1987
Peter Harms 1987-1989
George Groening (interim) 1989
Walter Thielmann 1989-1995
Hans Federau 1996-1999
Jacob Tilitzky (interim) 1999-2000
Dietrich “Dick” Rempel 2000-2005
Siegbert Zukowski 2005-2015

Membership

YEAR  MEMBERS
1952 60
1955 153
1959 194
1965 212
1975 233
1985 185
1995 151
2000 101
2005 62
2010 51
2014 42