Otterville in Oxford County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Otterville African Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery

Église méthodiste épiscopale africaine et cimetière d’Otterville

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 28, 2024

1. Otterville African Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Otterville African Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery
Encouraged by local Quakers, free Blacks and escaped slaves fled persecution in the United States and found homes in the Otterville area beginning in 1829. As skilled tradespeople and farmers, these people made significant contributions to local development. In 1856, trustees of the African Methodist Episcopal Church purchased this half-acre lot and built the first Black church in Oxford County. Later that year, the church was transferred to the newly established British Methodist Episcopal denomination. The church and cemetery served the local Black community until the late 1880s. The small white-painted frame church had disappeared by the early 20 century. Its cemetery is one of the few preserved Black pioneer burial grounds in Ontario.

Ontario Heritage Trust, an agency of the Government of Ontario

Église méthodiste épiscopale africaine et cimetière d’Otterville
Encouragés par des Quakers locaux, des Noirs libres et des esclaves fugitifs fuirent le climat de persécution qui sévissait aux États-Unis et s'établirent

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dans la région d'Otterville à compter de 1829. Comme ouvriers et agriculteurs, ces personnes ont apporté d'importantes contributions au développement local. En 1856, des fiduciaires de l'Église méthodiste épiscopale africaine achetèrent ce lot d'un demi-acre et y construisirent la première église noire du comté d'Oxford. Au cours de la même année, la bâtisse fut transférée à l'Église méthodiste épiscopale britannique, une nouvelle confession religieuse. L'Église et le cimetière servirent la communauté noire jusqu' à la fin des années 1880. La petite église blanche, à ossature de bois, avait disparu dès le début du 20e siècle. Son cimetière est l'un des quelques lieux de sépulture des pionniers noirs à avoir été préservé en Ontario.

Fiducie du patrimoine ontarien, un organisme du gouvernement de l'Ontario

Erected by Ontario Heritage Trust.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1829.

Location. 42° 55.89′ N, 80° 36.496′ W. Marker is in Otterville, Ontario, in Oxford County. It is on Pick Line

Église méthodiste épiscopale africaine et cimetière d’Otterville marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 28, 2024

2. Église méthodiste épiscopale africaine et cimetière d’Otterville marker

0.6 kilometers north of Main Street West, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 732666 Pick Line, Otterville ON N0J N0J, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Black Settlement in Norwich Township (here, next to this marker); The War of 1812 (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Harold Adam Innis 1894-1952 (approx. 4.1 kilometers away); The Establishment of Free Rural Mail Delivery (approx. 5.6 kilometers away); Emily Howard Jennings Stowe, M.D. 1831-1903 / Emily Howard Jennings Stowe, Médicin 1831-1903 (approx. 7.1 kilometers away); The “Old Brick” Meetinghouse (approx. 7.7 kilometers away); The First Commercial Cheese Factory in Canada (approx. 7.7 kilometers away); Quaker Street Public School (approx. 7.7 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Otterville.

Also see . . . Pioneering Pride in Otterville.

The candle is a fitting symbol of hope and has an especially poignant connection to Otterville. Many of the former slaves who settled here would have been guided to Canada by flickering candle lights in the windows of the Underground Railroad's "stations", private homes of Quakers and other abolitionists who provided shelter and assistance.

(Submitted on June 30, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Otterville African Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery / Église méthodiste épiscopale africaine image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 28, 2024

3. Otterville African Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery / Église méthodiste épiscopale africaine

Candles marking the location of graves in Otterville African Methodist Episcopal Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 28, 2024

4. Candles marking the location of graves in Otterville African Methodist Episcopal Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on July 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 224 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 30, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.