Methodists and Early Churches in the 1800s

Methodists and Early Churches in the 1800s

Methodism came to Upper Canada (Ontario) following the American Revolution. In 1786 Major George Neal, a

cavalry officer in the British Service during the Revolution, migrated to the Niagara Peninsula where he taught

school and preached. A number of such lay people laid the foundations for the Methodist Church in Upper

Canada.

The first regular Methodist preacher to appear in this area (London) was William Losee, a member of the New

York Conference which continued to foster and care for the little Canadian church until 1810 when the

Genessee Conference in New York State was formed, and as a part of this, the Canadian church remained until

the formation of a Canadian Conference in 1824. The American Methodists did not send preachers to Canada

but allowed volunteers to come.

It was under the auspices of the Genessee Conference that the circuit riders began their work in Western

Ontario. The first Methodist pastor appointed to the London area was the Rev. George Washington who began

his ministrations in 1819. Such circuit riders covered wide areas and one of them reported that he and his

assistant usually preached fifty times in 22 places in a four-week period! There being few churches, services

were often held in homes, barns or open spaces.

In 1823 London Township was constituted a circuit of the Methodist Church and it is from this year that

Metropolitan Church has dated its beginnings. Actually, there was no London at the time, as Governor Simcoe

had reserved the area at the Forks of the Thames as a possible capital for Upper Canada and the first building

was not erected until 1826, though the occasional squatter may have appeared. However, settlers were

moving into the immediate neighbourhood and many new members were being attracted to Methodism.

The Rev. Robert Corson was the minister in charge of the new circuit. The settlements were so sparse, the

distances so great, and the ministers so few that a Methodist clergyman was not assigned to a church but

rather to an area which he covered on horseback visiting scattered families and small settlements, preaching

and ministering in any way possible, and completing his circuit every three or four weeks. This mobility

contributed to the rapid growth of early Methodism. Robert Corson was an outstanding leader in those early

days and reference to a list of ministers who have served in the area will reveal that many of the really great

leaders of Methodism were associated with one or the other of the churches that were the forerunners of

Metropolitan.

In 1833 when the Rev. John Beattie was pastor of the London circuit, the first building to be used continuously

as a church was built on the west side of Ridout Street at the corner of Carling Street. This was a small rough-

cast structure about 18' by 24' and was in the centre of the growing town. The lot upon which the small chapel

stood became valuable, while the congregation became too large for the building. In 1839, when the Rev.

Adam Townley was pastor, the little church was sold to the Bank of Montreal and a new structure was erected

at the southeast corner of King and Talbot Streets. James 0'Dell and Captain John Smythe were the chief

promoters and a neatly framed chapel 30’ by 40’ was erected. It is recorded that the first piece of ornamental

plastering done in London was incorporated into this building.

The number of Methodists in London and vicinity by this time had grown so the circuit was divided, and the

church in London became the centre of a circuit embracing the territory for about ten miles around the town.

In 1842, the congregation decided to sell their Church and secure a location where a larger building could be

erected. The site chosen was on the west side of Richmond Street between Dundas and King Streets, across

from the south end of the former Simpson's department store. If on the west side of Richmond, it would have

been beside the old Simpson’s store. An edifice measuring 40' by 60' was constructed and was called Wesley

Chapel. The new church was used for ten years during which time Methodism grew rapidly. An outstanding

minister of the period (1849-1851) was the Rev. John Saltkill Carroll, whose name was a household word for

many years among the Methodists of London.

The Rev. Dr. Ephraim Evans succeeded the Rev. John Carroll as pastor. Dr. Evans was largely responsible for

the extension of Methodism, which again made necessary the building of a larger church. In 1852, the church

on Richmond Street was sold, and under the pastorate of the Rev. William Pollard the historic North Street

Methodist Church came into existence. This church was two years in building and was opened for worship

early in July 1854. The building was 120' x 66' with a tower and steeple and was, at that time, acknowledged to

be one of the finest Methodist churches west of the great St. James Methodist Church in Montreal. It held

more people than any other building in London and was the scene of many large and important mass

meetings including the memorial to the memory of the martyred Abraham Lincoln. The members of the first

Board of Trustees were: Messrs. Samuel Glass, George Tyas, John Elson, S. Peters, Samuel McBride, and S.

Screaton.

North Street Methodist Church was so named because it was situated on the southwest corner of North Street

(now Queens Avenue) and Park Avenue (now Clarence Street). This church is frequently referred to as the3

"parent Methodist Church in London." It received this designation because it aided in the formation of many

mission churches which have since become strong self-supporting causes.

According to the record book, in 1854, the North Street Methodist Church pews were rented by auction to the

highest bidders and Samuel McBride held the important position of pew steward and collector of rents. If

occupants fell six months in arrears in their rental payments, the pews were repossessed and re-rented.

Loyal members of North Street Methodist Church undertook the planting of Methodism in all parts of London.

In 1873 these dedicated Methodists, along with thirteen residents of New Brighton (now South London) built a

church in that place. This now is Wesley-Knox United Church of London. The same group also encouraged and

assisted in the building of Hamilton Road (now Hyatt Avenue Church), Centennial Church, Colborne Street

United Church, and Wellington Street United Church.

In 1872, a school room in the rear of the church was built by the congregation at a cost of $13,000. and was

named Wesley Hall, after which our lower interior Wesley Hall is named.

Toward the end of 1880, the church was redecorated, and a $9,000. organ installed.

The period between the years 1883 and 1893 witnessed a great change in the personnel of the Trustee Board.

After several of the original Board members died, the following young and active men were added to the

Board: Messrs. John Green, George Gibbons, Dr. F. R. Eccles, W. R. Hobbs, S. W. Abbott, W. M. Spencer,

George T. Mann, D. C. Hanna, L. Ingrams, S. Glass, J. H. Chapman, Chas. H. Ivey, D. S. Perrin, and Dr. Nelles.

These men carried on the work that had been so ably inaugurated by their predecessors and, for many years,

carried a heavy burden for the sake of the Methodist Church in London. During the pastorate of the Rev.

George Boyd, who was a very energetic and successful pastor, our church enjoyed a period of great prosperity.

Mr. Boyd (1889 – 1892) was instrumental in founding three missions, one on Richmond Street (now Robinson

Memorial Church) and two in West London (since closed). He died while in service in 1892.

In the two decades since the building of this first chapel in London, many changes had taken place in the

young denomination. The tenure of the itinerants was generally longer than in the early days, suggesting men

with better qualifications. The occasional academic degree was noted, indicating better training educationally

to add to evangelistic zeal. In 1836, the church established Upper Canada Academy at Cobourg, which in time

became Victoria College. Any student of good moral character was accepted, making entrance requirements

more generous than in government schools. Generally, the social standing of Methodists was improving.

Originally such evangelicals as Baptists and Methodists were debarred from holding land for churches and

burial grounds and their clergy might not perform marriages, but these disabilities were removed. As early as

1829 the Rev. Egerton Ryerson, with the help of the young church, established the Christian Guardian which in

time became the most influential journal in the province. The aggressiveness of the itinerants in carrying their

message to the lonely settlers added to the number of Methodists and made them a church body to be

considered.

Tragically, the church that had done so much to found or help other churches in the growing town met

disaster. In the early morning of Sunday, February 2, 1895, fire broke out and gutted the North Street Church.

When some members of the church came to the morning service, they found only a gutted and smoke-stained

building. The church officials acted with their usual vigour and arranged to use the Opera House as the

temporary place for public worship and the City Hall as a meeting place for the Sunday School.

The Trustees and Dr. Daniel, our pastor in 1895 through 1896, decided to sell the old lot and purchase the

present site on the corner of Dufferin Avenue and Wellington Street. The laying of the cornerstone of the4

present building took place on July 30, 1895. Many of the leading clergy of Methodism were present and

addresses were given by Sir John Carling, M.P., J. W. Little, Mayor, and T. S. Hobbs, M.P. The cornerstone was

laid by Samuel McBride. At that time (1895), our great new church cost between $45,000. and $50,000. The

name was changed from Queens Avenue Church to First Methodist Church, and the loyal congregation made

great sacrifices in order that they might have a church worthy of being the leading Methodist church in

London. The original subscription list shows that $38,249. was subscribed at that time. Dr. Daniel remained

our pastor for two years, and was succeeded by the Rev. J. V. Smith, DD. (1897–1901).