Author: Sibylle Habegger

The Memoria Mennonitica association was founded on September 27, 2005, to raise funds and acquire other assets, thereby enabling the creation of a Research and Documentation Centre which would be responsible for promoting and preserving Switzerland’s Anabaptist-Mennonite heritage, particularly for the purposes of research and study.

Michel Ummel and Hans-Rudolf Lavater were the driving forces behind this very important initiative. As its recognized “spiritual fathers,” they deserve our deepest gratitude. The Anabaptist Heritage Foundation was established in February 2024 thanks to numerous and generous donations, not only in kind, notably from the Memoria Mennonitica association, but also in cash.

The objectives of the Memoria Mennonitica association having been achieved, it was dissolved on March 28, 2026, with the remaining assets transferred to the Anabaptist Heritage Foundation, which is itself tax-exempt due to its public-benefit status and pursues the same or a similar purpose as the association. We would like to take this opportunity to once again express our deepest gratitude to all members of the Memoria Mennonitica association for their generosity and the dedication they have shown to promoting and preserving the Anabaptist-Mennonite heritage.

The Memoria Mennonitica Association was founded in 2005 with the aim of preserving and promoting the Anabaptist Mennonite cultural heritage. This goal is now also being pursued by the newly established Anabaptist Heritage Foundation (of which Memoria Mennonitica is one of the Foundation supporter, see News from 29.02.24).
At the general meeting on November 29, 2024, it was decided to dissolve the association by the end of 2025 at the latest. The current members of the association are invited to join the Circle of Friends of the Anabaptist Heritage Foundation.

Since 2018, retired pastor and former rector of the Bern Ecclesiastical Theological Church, Dr. Ulrich J. Gerber, has been managing a private Anabaptist museum in Renan with numerous objects relating to the history and art of the Anabaptist Mennonite movement. He now wants to bequeath these historical objects to the Anabaptist Heritage Foundation. Ulrich J. erber comes from an old Mennonite family and has been intensively involved in researching Anabaptist history throughout his life.
The Foundation Board is delighted that Ulrich J. Gerber intends to hand over his valuable collection to the Foundation.

The Anabaptist Heritage Foundation is planning an exhibition on the history of the Anabaptists in the Jura for the jubilee year 2025. The exhibition will be open to the public from April to October in the Jeanguisboden Chapel. Objects from the collection of Dr. Ulrich Gerber and from the Mäder-Studer collection will also be on exhibit.