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The Randolph Chortitzer Mennonite Church was the first CMC church built in Canada. The first church building was constructed at Chortitz (now known as Randolph) in 1876 and replaced in 1896 by the building that still remains today. It was the last CMC church to conduct its services only in German and without musical instruments for singing, doing so right until the end.
The church at Chortitz served as the central church of the conference for many years, which is why the conference became known as "Chortitzer". Over the years, however, it gradually lost most of its congregation to newer CMC churches in the larger communities nearby. The conference offices were relocated to the Steinbach CMC, the largest of the CMC churches in the region. With no younger families joining the church, the Sunday School program was discontinued in the late 1990's. The congregation's numbers continued to dwindle and in 2010, the CMC decided it was time to close the church. A decommissioning service was held on August 29, 2010, to celebrate God's grace upon the Mennonite people at Randolph.
The site is being transformed into a heritage cemetery, in order to help preserve the site for future generations. If you wish to donate to this project, please contact the CMC office.
The church at Chortitz served as the central church of the conference for many years, which is why the conference became known as "Chortitzer". Over the years, however, it gradually lost most of its congregation to newer CMC churches in the larger communities nearby. The conference offices were relocated to the Steinbach CMC, the largest of the CMC churches in the region. With no younger families joining the church, the Sunday School program was discontinued in the late 1990's. The congregation's numbers continued to dwindle and in 2010, the CMC decided it was time to close the church. A decommissioning service was held on August 29, 2010, to celebrate God's grace upon the Mennonite people at Randolph.
The site is being transformed into a heritage cemetery, in order to help preserve the site for future generations. If you wish to donate to this project, please contact the CMC office.