|
Friday, November 8, 2024
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In 1834 the American
Methodist Episcopal Church was first established in Canada in
1834. Church members were required to travel across the border,
to America, on a regular basis to attend conferences and functions.
As the environment became increasingly hostile to both free blacks
and fugitive slaves in the Northern States it became unsafe for
members to venture across the border.
|
|
Interior
of the original BME Church – photo with permission of the
BME Church Windsor Windsdor / McCurdy Collection at the Archives
of Ontario |
|
The fear of being captured
and forced into slavery in the South was a very real one.
|
|
|
|
Bishop
Willis Nazrey
Photo Courtesy of the BME Church Windsor / McCurdy Collection
at the Archives of Ontario |
|
Bishop
Disney
Photo
Courtesy of the BME Church Windsor / McCurdy Collection at the
Archives of Ontario
|
|
|
Reverend Benjamin Stewart of Chatham introduced
a resolution that the Methodist churches in British North America (Canada)
separate from the American association and form their own church. The
new church was named the British Methodist Episcopal Church in appreciation
of finding a safe haven from slavery in British North America . At
a conference in Philadelphia in 1856 the resolution was adopted and
the new church association was founded with Reverend Willis Nazrey
of Virginia as its’ first Bishop. Bishop Nazrey was followed
by Bishop Disney. Both Reverend Stewart and Bishop Nazrey were interred
in the Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham, Ontario. |
|
|
|
In 1854 the original building
of the British Methodist Episcopal Church in Windsor was a wooden
structure. In 1856 church members and escaped slaves began construction
of a brick church on the Westside of McDougall Street near Assumption.
Many of the women carried water and made bricks. The men then laid
the bricks to construct the church. The trustees of the church
were Wiley Reynolds, Jacob Jones and Martin P. Mitchell. From 1856
to 1963 the BME church remained an active church in it’s
original location, 363 McDougall street.
Left picture: 107th anniversary of the BME Church – Photo
Courtesy of the Windsor Star 28/10/1961) |
|
|
|
|
In the late 1950’s
the redevelopment plan ‘Area No. 1’ included plans
for demolition of the church. In 1954 Rev. I. H. Edwards began
a campaign to raise funds to rebuild in a new location. The fundraising
committee held ‘Tag Days’ to raise the required funds.
Pictured left are Ted Talbot and Junior Church Aid Group members
Norlene Caston and Andrea Shreve during
the sixth annual |
|
Ted Talbot,
Norlene Caston and Andrea Shreve raise funds – Photo Courtesy
of the Windsor Star 29/07/1960) |
|
‘Tag Day’ building fund drive. |
|
|
|
|
On June 3, 1963 a groundbreaking
ceremony was held at the site of the new British Methodist Episcopal
Church at the corner of University and Louis Avenues. James E.
Watson, Mrs. Cameron H. Montrose, Rev. I. H. Edwards, Charles
E. Howard, Thomas Millben and Dr. A.S. Markham gathered to turn
the sod and begin construction of the new building. The congregation
moved to its’current location, 685 University Avenue, in
1963.
Left picture: Ground Breaking Ceremony for the
new BME Church – photo
courtesy of The Windsor Star 3/06/1963 |
|
|
|
|
Some early members of
the church who maintained their membership for over 50 years
included:
- President of the Church Lindon Brooks and his wife Mary of 656
Goyeau Street
- Jane Washington of Tuscarora Street
- Anne Lewis of McDougall Street
- Martha Taylor of 324 Albert Street
Left picture: Membership card signed by Rev. B.
Stewart in 1858 – courtesy
of the BME Church Windsor / McCurdy Collection at the Archives
of Ontario |
|
|
|
|
Click here to see images & details |
|
Back to
previous page |
|