Old City in Guelph in Wellington County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Guelph British Methodist Episcopal Church

Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 1, 2025

1. Guelph British Methodist Episcopal Church Marker

Inscription. A testament to the resilience of the Black community, the Guelph British Methodist Episcopal (BME) Church was established in the 1850s by freedom seekers and free Blacks. Many had resided in Wellington County since the 1820s, moving from the Queen's Bush area to the Essex Nottingham neighbourhood of Guelph's welcoming English Methodist community. The growing congregation raised funds to purchase land in 1869 and built a wooden chapel here in 1870. In 1880, they laid the cornerstone and began construction of this limestone chapel. By 1881, Guelph's Black population numbered 107; the majority resided near the church. Throughout its history, this church played a key role as a meeting place for the Black community, fulfilling the spiritual and social needs of the congregation, providing a safe haven and representing a symbol of freedom. Over the years, ministers included Junius Roberts, Samuel R. Drake, Solomon Lucas and Mabel "Addie" Aylestock - the first female BME minister. In 1975, the church closed due to declining attendance but reopened from 1994-2009. In 2012, the Guelph Black Heritage Society purchased the church,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

which continues to service the broader community, while honouring the church's heritage. It is an important symbol of the history of the Black Methodist tradition and long history of Black settlement in Ontario.

Erected 2025 by Ontario Heritage Trust.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.

Location. 43° 32.379′ N, 80° 15.012′ W. Marker is in Guelph, Ontario, in Wellington County. It is in Old City. It is on Essex Street 0.1 kilometers west of Dublin Street South, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 83 Essex Street, Guelph ON N1H 3K9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Huron-Perth-Waterloo-Wellington 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

Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 1, 2025

2. Guelph British Methodist Episcopal Church Marker

colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: British Episcopal Methodist Church (here, next to this marker); John McLean 1799-1890 (about 240 meters away, measured in a direct line); Joseph Connolly 1840 - 1904 (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception / L’Église Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); The Home of the First Mayor of Guelph (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Provincial Winter Fair Building (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Gow’s Bridge (approx. half a kilometer away); Guelph City Hall / L'hôtel de ville de Guelph (approx. half a kilometer away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Guelph.

Also see . . . New provincial plaque commemorates the Guelph British Methodist Episcopal Church (newswire.ca). July 15, 2025

"The Guelph British Methodist Episcopal Church stands as a testament to the enduring strength of Ontario's Black communities. For generations, it was more than a place of worship — it
Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 1, 2025

3. Guelph British Methodist Episcopal Church Marker
was a cornerstone of civic and spiritual life. The Ontario Heritage Trust is honoured to commemorate its legacy with a provincial plaque." — John Ecker, Chair, Ontario Heritage Trust

(Submitted on September 11, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 69 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 11, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.