Former Turner Chapel - Oakville, ON - Methodist Churches on Waymarking.com

Oakville Ontario, today one of the wealthiest and most prosperous cities in Canada, was once an important stop along the Underground Railroad into Canada. In 1834 Oakville became the official Port of Entry for goods entering Canada by ship. Since many slaves were sneaked into Canada hidden within goods shipments, it's no wonder that the number of fugitive slaves entering Oakville also increased around this time.

TURNER AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

The Turner African Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1891 and opened under Reverend William Roberts in 1892. The congregation included African Americans from Oakville and Bronte, and united members of the British Methodist Episcopal and African Methodist Episcopal churches. The church was named after Bishop Henry Turner, a well-known preacher and community worker, whom President Abraham Lincoln had named as the first African American Chaplain in the United States Armed Forces. An important religious center, the Turner Chapel became a hub of social activity. The church choirs were of a high caliber and often traveled on exchanges to other local churches. Revival meetings were well attended; operettas were organized and performed; garden parties were held in the summer.

The congregation remained very active for nearly 100 years. Renovated in 1991, the Turner Chapel still stands today at 37 Lakeshore Road w., between Chisholm and Wilson Streets.

Source: http://images.oakville.halinet.on.ca/117/Exhibit/9999822; accessed 22 November 2016

The Turner Chapel of the African Methodist Episcopal Church was designated in 1987. Built circa 1890, the Chapel is vestige of the black Methodist settlers in Canada. Ministers of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, originally from the United States, came to preach to these Canadian black settlers. In 1887, the church property was purchased and, in 1890, the church's cornerstone was laid. A year later the church was opened for service. The Turner Chapel is an example of modest church architecture of the period. Several of its more significant features include the rose window, the round headed windows, and buttresses.

Source: http://archives.oakville.ca/db086.htm; accessed 21 November 2016

A sign was erected outside the church. It reads:

THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
TURNER CHAPEL
JANUARY 1, 1892
TO GOD BE THE GLORY

African Americans had arrived in the Oakville Bronte area as early as the 1830s. With the passing of the Fugitive Slave Act 1850 a significant increase was noted in the number of former slaves leaving the northern states and following the North Star into Canada West (Ontario).

Among the arriving fugitives was James Wesley Hill who later would be responsible as an agent of the underground railroad for assisting many former slaves into Canada and giving them temporary employment on his farm to help them get established.

About 1860, Samuel Adams and his brother-in-law, Rev. William Butler (ordained in the A.M.E. church) set about organizing an estimated three or four hundred fugitives in the vicinity.

After many set-backs, suitable land was acquired on the present site for a church.

The corner-stone for the building was placed in 1891.

On January 1, 1892, the doors of Turner Chapel A.M.E. church were flung open for service under the leadership of Rev. William Roberts.

A salute was tendered to Bishop Henry McNeal Turner the first black chaplain in Armed Forces of the U.S.A, and a dedicated community worker, when his name was applied to this sanctuary.

Turner Chapel served as a community centre for the Afro American immigrants as well as a place of worship. Gradually, however, the members of the congregation began to disperse to other communities and in the later years of the Twentieth Century the property was leased to an offshoot of the Anglican Church with a small congregation of twelve members and a Bishop. The Anglicans sought funding for renovations and the church, which was in danger of toppling because a weakened foundation, was repaired and outfitted with central heating and air conditioning. Money was also raised to replace the original windows with new stained glass and leaded panes. In 2000 the owners of the Church placed the property on the market. The single lot housed both the church and the newer (1930's) manse. The site was ignored by developers because of the rigorous demands of the historic designation on the church. In effect, the church structure could not be modified or changed in any way. In 2002 Jed Gardner, a local antique dealer, decided to purchase both properties to be the location of his expanding business. Gardner worked with the Oakville Historical Society to accommodate the new purpose and the building was restored in a suitable manner and preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turner_Chapel_Oakville,_Ontario,_Canada; accessed 21 November 2016

At least one photo. You're welcome to be in the picture, but please, No GPSr.