Canadian Mennonite
Volume 11, No. 02
January 22, 2007

Schneider descendants celebrate two centuries in Bloomingdale

Bloomingdale, Ont.

Maynard Paul Snider of Pennsyl-vania, a direct descendant of Jacob and Maria Schneider, unveiled a plaque in the cemetery, honouring these ancestors who are considered the founders of Bloomingdale (Ont.) Mennonite Church.

Bloomingdale Mennonite Church celebrated its 200th anniversary on Thanksgiving weekend, Oct. 7 and 8. Among the many weekend activities was a musical drama, Journey, performed on Saturday evening. It told the story of the early pioneers who travelled from Pennsylvania to the Oxbow of the Grand River in 1806. Throughout the weekend there were historical displays and tours. A new plaque in the cemetery and a cairn beside the main road in Bloomingdale were dedicated in honour of the first settlers, Jacob (known as “Yoch”) and Maria (Erb) Schneider.

Sam Steiner, historian and archivist, spoke at the dedication of the cairn. The Schneider family was closely related to many of the other early Mennonite families of the area. A major motivation in coming to this wilderness was probably to find affordable farms for their sons. They were accustomed to the hard work needed to clear the trees in order to grow crops.

The Schneider family provided spiritual leadership in the community. The church at Bloomingdale was called “Schneiders” for many years, since the congregation met in the Schneider home. “Yoch” was ordained as a deacon in 1809, the same year that Benjamin Eby was ordained as a minister.

In the early years when a group met on Sundays they would have worshipped with singing, Bible reading and prayers from the Mennonite prayerbook. There would not have been a sermon unless an ordained preacher was present. They may have read from the Martyrs Mirror.

From this early beginning 200 years ago, a congregation has thrived. Many Schneider/Snyder/Snider descendants came from a distance to participate in this celebration.

—Barb Draper, with files from Marion Roes and Sam Steiner

Groundbreaking at Steinmann

Baden, Ont.

The official groundbreaking for a new 1,400-square-metre addition to Steinmann Mennonite Church in Baden, Ont., on Sept. 24 was a multi-generational affair. The $3 million multi-purpose facility will house a full-size gymnasium, kitchen, washrooms and nursery. As well, current offices and Sunday school rooms will be renovated to better accommodate anticipated church growth. To address energy conservation concerns, the plans include upgraded insulation, windows, lights and water conservation, and the installation of energy recovery ventilators to conserve energy required to heat or cool incoming air.