Glencolton Farm and Messiah Amongst The Cows

by Jim Campbell, OBP Director/VP.

A truly magical experience at this magical (but darkest) time of year is to be had in the rural farmland north-east of Durham Ontario where the indefatigable Michael Schmidt along with his industrious family and community members, host at Glencolton Farm two evenings of “enrichment for the soul”, the Christkindl Market and the Messiah Amongst The Cows.

From the Christkindl website: “The Christkindl Market is a fundraiser  to benefit the Grey Bruce Hospice – Chapman House.  The tradition of Christkindl market dates back to the Middle Ages where city streets or town squares were transformed to street markets during the four weeks of Advent.“

The farm compound at Glencolton is a wonderful collection of buildings (including a heavily-modified mid-19th century swing beam barn that I hope to write in more detail about in 2026) that really do make one feel as though they are within a small European village during a winter festival. Great food, artisans and so many children, smiles and postive energy!

But as this is a barn blog, I do want to share with you a bit about Messiah Amongst The Cows … which as you might hope at this cold time of year in blustery Grey County, is within the bowels of the enormous main barn. This building, as well as being the heart of the very active biodynamic farm and its dairy herd, was also the centre for many years of the Symphony In The Barn, another one of Schmidt & company’s admirable achievements. I consider myself fortunate to have attended several memorable concerts within the barn, with Michael Schmidt as conductor, and of one concert in particular when a sudden downpour was so loud against the steel barn roof that the orchestra had to pause to let nature perform its own symphonic overture until the rain relented!

But the upstairs hayloft is no longer permitted to have concerts, I believe due to building code requirements, yet during the Christkindl event there is the opportunity to somewhat relive those past ‘symphonies in the barn’ by attending Messiah Amongst The Cows. Again with Michael as the conductor, the Saugeen Bach Choir and guests perform Part 1 of Handel’s Messiah within the stalls of the barn, surrounded by attendees, who in turn are surrounded by some members of the dairy herd, a few barn cats, and, by the cluck of it, the odd chicken. I have to say, by the swaying of horns visible over the stall walls, the cattle certainly seemed to be in sync with the music, and Michael noted during his welcoming address that the milk the next day would be particularly sweet as a result.

So next December, if you are looking for a special barn-related adventure to treat yourself and your loved ones to at the onset of the holiday season, I would suggest consider venturing over to the Municipality of West Grey, but keep in mind the Messiah seems to sell out well in advance, so it would be advisable to get onto their mailing list or keep an eye out on the Christkindl website to obtain tickets while they are available.

J.C., Duntroon.

p.s. Please consider giving an OBP membership to the barn enthusiasts in your life as a holiday gift!

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