Understanding the Intersection of Reformed Faith and Dutch Immigrant Culture in Ontario Independent Christian Schools: Principals’ Experiences and Perspectives

In the aftermath of World War II, a wave of Dutch Reformed immigrants arrived in Ontario, many of whom joined the Christian Reformed Church. Following familiar cultural patterns, history, and their Reformed Christian faith, these immigrants settled in Ontario with remarkable institutional completeness (Breton, 1964). They quickly established independent, parent-operated Christian schools across Ontario. The primary purpose of the schools was to educate children through a comprehensive biblically based school program, yet this religious purpose often intersected with a Dutch immigrant ethnic culture. Van Dijk (2001) states that “the schools were the most important organization in maintaining the religious and ethnic identity of Calvinists” (p. 66). In this qualitative study I explore the intersection of Reformed faith and Dutch Canadian immigrant ethnic culture in Christian schools through the experiential and professional lens of eight retired principals. Employing a theoretical framework informed by Berger’s (1967) Sacred Canopy, I suggest that the intersection of faith and culture was experienced in the schools and was embodied by the schools themselves. Findings point to this intersection being located in the participants’ experience of (a) Dutchness, (b) the struggle for Christian education, (c) the ties that bound the school community together, and (d) the cloud of witnesses that founded and continues to support and encourage the Christian school community. The study offers insight into a Dutch Reformed immigrant group’s experience carving out a niche for themselves on the educational landscape in Ontario. This study also offers suggestions on how Christian schools can broaden their canopy and become more ethnically and denominationally diverse in the future.

Telegram from Great North Western Telegraph Company of Canada to S.D. Woodruff from L. Cabot

Telegram from Great North Western Telegraph Company of Canada to S.D. Woodruff from L. Cabot stating that he will take the shares, Jan. 16, 1886.

Telegram from Great North Western Telegraph Company of Canada to S.D. Woodruff from L. Cabot stating that the draft for $5000.00 will be forwarded

Telegram from Great North Western Telegraph Company of Canada to S.D. Woodruff from L. Cabot stating that the draft for $5000.00 will be forwarded on Monday or Tuesday, Jan. 16, 1886.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from Louis N. Hayne, secretary of the Long Point Company

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from Louis N. Hayne, secretary of the Long Point Company requesting payment from members of the club, June 2, 1886.

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from E. Harris, president of the Long Point Company

Letter to S.D. Woodruff from E. Harris, president of the Long Point Company in which he suggests that the principal provisions of the bill regarding shares in the Long Point Company be brought before the Ontario House (2 pages, handwritten), Jan. 15, 1887

Letter on Long Point Company letterhead addressed to W.D. Woodruff of Lincoln Paper Mills

Letter on Long Point Company letterhead addressed to W.D. Woodruff of Lincoln Paper Mills, Merritton, Ontario in which Frank Reid, secretary of Long Point Company encloses a copy of the by-laws and the dates of incorporation, as requested (1 page, typed) [by-laws are not included here], Jan. 18, 1916.

Letter to the Welland Canal Office from Welland Woodruff, Government Director of the Welland Canal Company

Letter to the Welland Canal Office from Welland Woodruff, Government Director of the Welland Canal Company in which he dissents from giving an extension of time to the St. Catharines Water Power Company to extend the lease of water from this time. This is a copy of the original, March 11, 1837.

Receipt from Pratt and Company for brass rail

Receipt from Pratt and Company for brass rail, Aug. 17, 1876.

Receipt from Pratt and Company for hardware

Receipt from Pratt and Company for hardware, Aug. 22, 1876.

Receipt from Pratt and Company for bronze knobs

Receipt from Pratt and Company for bronze knobs, Aug. 29, 1876.

Receipt from Pratt and Company for payment on account

Receipt from Pratt and Company for payment on account, Sept. 1, 1876.

Credit to S.D. Woodruff from Pratt and Company for $150.00

Credit to S.D. Woodruff from Pratt and Company for $150.00, Sept. 7, 1876.

Receipt from Pratt and Company for bronze escutcheons

Receipt from Pratt and Company for bronze escutcheons, Sept. 9, 1876.

Receipt from Pratt and Company, New York for payment on account

Receipt from Pratt and Company, New York for payment on account, Oct. 1, 1876

Credit to S.D. Woodruff from Pratt and Company for $62.00

Credit to S.D. Woodruff from Pratt and Company for $62.00, Nov. 6, 1876.