Dorchester in Thames Centre in Middlesex County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
St. Peter’s Anglican Church
1854
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Middlesex Heritage Trail
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Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 14, 2026
1. St. Peter’s Anglican Church Marker
Inscription.
St. Peter’s Anglican Church. The original St. Peter's Anglican Church in Dorchester, or Edwardsburg as it was known in 1854, was named after the Parish Church of Dorchester, in the English County of Dorset. This namesake, more humble than its English counterpart, was first built in 1854, largely due to the efforts of William Wade and Peter Hunter. The two men and their sons hewed the timber for the building, and Mr. Hunter actually sold his ox team in order to make payment on the church., The first sporadic fragments of records date to 1860 only, when there was a vestry meeting held for the sole purpose of electing church wardens. The names Wade, Hunter, Ward, Niles, Irwin, Chittick, Hardy, and Skinner would figure prominently in the church's history. From this date on, the founders and substantial citizens of Dorchester took care of church matters. It is believed that church membership in those days was considered a civic responsibility., Mission churches were soon established in the communities of Thamesford and Thorndale. They would become self-sustaining congregations., By 1866, an organ for the church had been purchased. At this time, financial records appear in greater detail than before. Concerts were being held to raise money, and burial lots were being sold. In the minutes of 1873, it states that $103.00 was spent on improvements. This was a sizable amount for that time. The Orange Lodge contributed $10.00 towards this debt., The period until the turn of the century was one of stability. In 1912, plans were well underway for the building of a brick church. To make the lot ready, the frame church was moved by roller and manpower supplied by the congregation to Hill Street. Services would continue there until the new church was ready, eight months later. Dedication services were held on February 16, 1913 at the new St. Peter's Church. The original frame church was eventually sold and moved to Catherine Street, where it now stands as a reminder of the dedication of its earliest members.,
Those mighty periods of years , Which seems to us so vast, , Appear no more before Thy sight , Than yesterday that's past. ,
Robert Burns.
The original St. Peter's Anglican Church in Dorchester, or Edwardsburg as it was known in 1854, was named after the Parish Church of Dorchester, in the English County of Dorset. This namesake, more humble than its English counterpart, was first built in 1854, largely due to the efforts of William Wade and Peter Hunter. The two men and their sons hewed the timber for the building, and Mr. Hunter actually sold his ox team in order to make payment on the church.
The first sporadic fragments of records date to 1860 only, when there was a vestry meeting held for the sole purpose of electing church wardens. The names Wade, Hunter, Ward, Niles, Irwin, Chittick, Hardy, and Skinner would figure prominently in the church's history. From this date on, the founders and substantial citizens of Dorchester took care of church matters. It is believed that church membership in those days was considered a civic responsibility.
Mission churches were soon established in the communities of Thamesford and Thorndale. They would become self-sustaining congregations.
By 1866, an organ for the church had been purchased. At this time, financial
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records appear in greater detail than before. Concerts were being held to raise money, and burial lots were being sold. In the minutes of 1873, it states that $103.00 was spent on improvements. This was a sizable amount for that time. The Orange Lodge contributed $10.00 towards this debt.
The period until the turn of the century was one of stability. In 1912, plans were well underway for the building of a brick church. To make the lot ready, the frame church was moved by roller and manpower supplied by the congregation to Hill Street. Services would continue there until the new church was ready, eight months later. Dedication services were held on February 16, 1913 at the new St. Peter's Church. The original frame church was eventually sold and moved to Catherine Street, where it now stands as a reminder of the dedication of its earliest members.
Those mighty periods of years
Which seems to us so vast,
Appear no more before Thy sight
Than yesterday that's past.
Robert Burns
Erected by Thames Centre/Middlesex County. (Marker Number 7.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.
Location. 42° 59.36′ N,
Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 14, 2026
2. St. Peter’s Anglican Church Marker
81° 3.982′ W. Marker is in Thames Centre, Ontario, in Middlesex County. It is in Dorchester. It is at the intersection of Catherine Street (County Road 49) and Hill Street, on the right when traveling east on Catherine Street (County Road 49). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4091 County Road 49, Thames Centre ON N0L 1G0, 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.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 15, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
