Colony established 1836; registers from 1843 · tradition
Bergthal Mennonites
The Bergthal colony’s migration to Manitoba became the background of the Chortitzer and Sommerfeld church histories.
The exhibit places Bergthal within the colony-based Mennonite family of the Russian Empire. Surviving Bergthal church registers begin in 1843, providing a record of families and community membership.
Almost the entire colony moved to Manitoba in 1874–1876. Its East Reserve church became known as Chortitzer. Migration across the Red River to the West Reserve and later disagreements produced further church relationships. Bergthal therefore describes a historical community whose members contributed to several later fellowships, rather than one unchanging organizational line.
Sources for this history: [1] [2] [3] [4]
