We have copies of Elwood Yoder's new history of Trissels.

Fill out the form below to contact us about getting a copy of Under the Oaks: A History of Trissels Mennonite Church, Broadway, Virginia, 1822-2022. 


Chapter titles and sections:


1. Migration and Settlement, 1727-1830

   Henry and Elizabeth Rhodes

   Settlers Come to Virginia, Rockingham, and Cedar Run

   Daniel and Margaret Showalter

   Jacob and Anna Geil

   Funks and Brunks

   Start of Trissels Cemetery

   Building a Log Meetinghouse

   Uncertainties about the Cedar Run Community


2. Transition to English, 1831-1860

   First Trissels Church Meetinghouse

   Women in the Early Nineteenth Century

   Changes in Rockingham County

   Documents from 1830-1861


3. Civil War, 1861-1865

   Forces that Brought Civil War

   The Sweeping Tides of War

   A Time to Fear


4. Reconstruction and Rebuilding, 1865-1876

   Reconstruction

   Church Life

   Families and Westward Movement

   The Brunk Homestead


5. Spread of the Gospel, 1877-1900

   Call to Mission midst Ordinary Life

   Regular Patterns of Life

   Signs of Change

   Need For a New Church Building


6. Foundations of a New Era, 1901-1915

   New Ministers

   George B. Showalter

   Lewis and Mattie Shank

   1900 Wood Frame Building

   H. D. H. and Flora Grove Showalter


7. Faith and Progressive Challenges, 1916-1930

   A Time of Great Changes

   Church Life and Ministers

   People and Faith


8. Great Depression and World War II, 1931-1945

   Benjamin and Ida Moyers

   Rural Mission Possibilities

   Great Depression

   Women at Trissels, 1931-1945

   H. D. H. Showalter: Churchman and Entrepreneur

   Ministers

   World War II and Civilian Public Service

   Mission Churches of the Northern District


9. Gospel Growth, 1946-1960

   Three Decisions for Trissels in the 1940s

   Building and Dedicating the 1950 Brick Meetinghouse

   Women's Ministries at Trissels in the 1950s

   Pastors at Trissels in the 1950s


10. Building a Strong Congregation, 1961-1975

   An Era of Good Feelings, 1961-63

   David Augsburger, The Mennonite Voice

   The Mennonite Hour

   Speakers and Revivals

   Educational Wing

   Life Together at Trissels in the 1960s

   H. Michael Shenk II, 1971-75

   Sesquicentennial


11. Renewal and Division, 1976-1990

   Conference and Denomination, 1975-1979

   Congregational Life, 1975-1978

   Similar Names and How they are Used in this Book

   George M. Mason (1889-1979)

   Norvell Trumbo Jr. (1923-2009)

   Congregational Life, 1978-1981

   Congregational Growth, 1981-1983

   Mary Moyers, 1913-2008

   Growth and Division, 1984-1986

   Trissels Membership and Attendance, 1973-1990

   Restoration and Recovery, 1986-1990


12. Families and Faith, 1991-2008

   Faith and Service

   Pastor Philip Kanagy, 1997-2008

   Trissels Membership and Attendance, 1993-2008

   Funerals at Trissels


13. Streams of Mercy, 2009-2022

   The Gift of Music

   Caring Community

   Ministry Beyond

   Faith in God

   Burials in Trissels Church Cemetery, 2009-2021


14. Appendix

   Bishops & Ministers at Trissels Mennonite Church

   Women of Trissels

   Acknowledgements

   Trissels Roster in 2022

   Works Cited

   Index

   The Author

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Two possible corrections to the book have been given by Rowland Shank (son of J. Ward Shank), a member at Trissels, age 95 [as of Nov 2024].

-p.78 photo caption should be changed to Samuel Shank Jr. (1828-1900) and his second wife Mary Virginia Brenneman Shank (1848-1925). Brenneman, not Rhodes. The entry for Samuel Shank in "Descendants of Samuel & Catherine Rhodes Shank" (compiled by Ethel Geil Rhodes, Eula M. Showalter, Miriam S. Wenger as of July 5, 1991) includes this line:

Second marriage, June 15, 1879, to Mrs. Mary V. (Polly) Brenneman, born May 31, 1848, daughter of [blank], died November 10, 1925.


- p.202 describes the sanctuary ceiling coming down "in early 1961." It seems to have happened about 10 years earlier. Rowland wrote about the event in a composition for his English class in 1950-51 when he was freshman in college. Here's his composition (great fun!):

SANCTUARY

   The minister swung from the introduction into the body of his sermon. Up front two habitual sleepers started the telltale oscillation of their heads. A mother sitting near the rear of the church toyed with her cooing baby. Amidst this tranquil scene the back door of the church blew open and a rush of air filled the room. As the mother pulled a blanket quickly over her child, the janitor rose and walked back to shut the door. And just as it closed--it happened. The ceiling caved in and chaos reigned immediately.

   Did I, who was sitting near the rear with my lady friend, shield her with all the power at the disposal of manhood? Chivalry never entered my mind. I immediately bolted through the falling debris in the direction of the door. After covering about ten feet I thought of my friend and started back to where we had been sitting. There I found Cellotex piled as high as the bench, and no girl. For two minutes I hunted in consternation before I located her in another part of the room.

   Should one always learn some lesson from an embarrassing experience? If so, am I therefore safe to assume that it is ethically and practically the safest to hold your girl’s hand in church--just in case?

—J. Rowland Shank, English Composition, Theme VII (no date given but Theme II was dated Sept 29, 1950 and Theme III was Oct 30, 1950; the “girl” was Thelma Trumbo who became his wife)