ABOUT OUR CHURCH
THE BEGINNINGS OF BETHEL
The founder of the Bethel Congregation wrote on the occasion of our ‘Silver Jubilee’ that many were surprised when the German-speaking Bethel congregation was called to life on February 6. 1949, so soon after World War II. German immigrants, who came from fourteen different European regions, would join together to become “Bethel Evangelisch Lutherische Kirche”.
The congregation grew at a frantic pace as seen here in the picture outside at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kitchener. The use of St. Paul’s congregation’s facility sufficed only till 1953, when the influx of D.P.s (displaced persons) from the bombed-out and unemployment-plagued Germany crested. The young congregation bought an old Mennonite Church building on Church Street in Kitchener in 1952. In 1956, now a congregation of approximately 1000, plans were made to build a new larger church to serve the congregation for many years to come.
On June 23, 1963 the Bethel congregation moved into the brand new church with 16 Sunday School rooms and a large auditorium. A German-Language School, theatre groups, choirs, bands, and youth group were all running from this beautiful new location at 47 Sheldon Ave North, in Kitchener. Below is some vintage 8mm footage of the construction, dedication, and first service. We continue to operate from this location today!
