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

British Episcopal Methodist Church

83 Essex Street

Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 1, 2025

1. British Episcopal Methodist Church Marker

Inscription. Built in 1880 of local limestone in Gothic Revival style, the B.M.E. church became the centre of Guelph's black community. The city's early black community of fugitive slaves from the United States settled near Waterloo and Essex Streets as workers in area stone quarries. After worshipping in a frame church nearby, this stone church was built as a meeting place and a safe haven. Designated as a cultural heritage property by the City of Guelph 2012

Erected 2012 by City of Guelph.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 43° 32.378′ 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 south. 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.

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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 walking distance of this marker: Guelph British Methodist Episcopal 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 . . . History - BME Church Guelph (Guelph Black Heritage society).

By 1869, the community was large enough to seek a church of its
Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 1, 2025

2. British Episcopal Methodist Church Marker
To the right of the door
own. On January 18 of that year, the Guelph Mercury records that “the Trustees of the Methodist (coloured) Episcopal Church of our Town have made arrangements for the purchase of a town lot whereon to erect a suitable place of worship” with the intention of appealing for public assistance with funding. Rev. G.R. Blount duly began fundraising and a frame church, “Bethel,” was erected the following year in 1870. The Guelph Directory for 1873 notes that the “Coloured Methodist” church stood on Market Street (now Waterloo Avenue) but was entered from Essex Street.

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

British Episcopal Methodist Church in 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, September 1, 2025

3. British Episcopal Methodist Church in 2025

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 71 times since then and 22 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.