Historical Sketch: Clearbrook Mennonite Church
In 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 minister of the church. By January 1954 the membership had grown to some 120, and by 1965, over 200 members. The church was reluctant to relinquish the German language and membership decreased below 200 when 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. The 2011 membership stands at 49 with a weekly attendance of between 36 and 42. Between 1952 and 2011 the church has conducted 339 funerals.
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 is presently pastor.
The motto of the Clearbrook Mennonite Church is taken from Psalm 102: “Worship the Lord with gladness.” The main emphasis in the church is worship and fellowship and the congregation’s greatest strength is prayer and financial support of conference programs. The Clearbrook Mennonite Church is 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.
Clearbrook Mennonite Leading Ministers |
Minister Years of Ministry |
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 |
Clearbrook Mennonite Membership |
Year Members |
1952 60 |
1955 153 |
1959 194 |
1965 212 |
1975 233 |
1985 185 |
1995 151 |
2000 101 |
2005 62 |
2010 51 |