Baldenheim, an Alsatian village near Schiettstadt, where there was probably a Mennonite congregation in the 17th century. "They met every other Sunday—at most 20 persons. First a preacher spoke about an hour or more, expounding the Gospel. Then another gave testimony to the sermon, as the apostles had done. After the service all fell on their knees in prayer and then sang psalms as is done in the Reformed churches." This is the statement of a Mennonite seized in Basel, Jakob Oberer of Sissach, who had settled in Baldenheim in 1680. Jakob Frick from the canton of Zürich and a Hans from Bern were preachers in this congregation. The Dordrecht Confession of Faith, which was accepted in Ohnenheim in Alsace on 4 February 1660 was signed by Jakob Schnebly of Baldenheim. Ph. A. Grandidier states in his Oevres historiques inedites (1865) that Baldenheim was one of the three meeting places of the Alsatian Mennonites; eight families were living there.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 215. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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