In the early fall of the year 1874, a group of men drove to the general store of Mr. Samuel Falconbridge in Aberfoyle. This was the first move by a group of people, inspired by the Rev. Ephriam Clement from Mountsberg, to organize a congregation of the Methodist Episcopal Church. There was obviously a need for another congregation in the area and it was on November 19, 1876 that the first service of the newly formed congregation was held in the Council Chambers of the Township hall with 15 members present.

The new church was on a circuit called Flamborough of the Hamilton district of the Niagara Conference, consisting of six congregations, Bethany, Moffat, Mountsberg, Zion near Carlisle, Bethel and Aberfoyle.

Very soon after the formation of the new congregation, it became clear that a more suitable building was needed. On October 9th, 1877, a parcel of land was purchased from Joe Smith for the sum of $15.00 and the same day a contract was signed with Hugh Reid for the building of a church for the sum of $625.00

The bricks for the church were priced at $82.50 for 11,000 bricks and the laying of these bricks came to $25.00. The Dictator box stove used for heating came to $12.00 and the pipes for the stove were 15 cents each. The total cost of the property and furnishings amounted to the grand total of $625.00.

It took ten weeks to build the church and on December 30, 1877, a service of dedication was held in the newly built sanctuary. The oval board with the inscription �Mount Carmel Church� was built by George Stephenson, the wagon maker, for $2.50. It was incorporated in the new church built later on and is still there today.

After Church Union in 1925, the Aberfoyle Church became a member of the United Church of Canada and according to the basis of Union, the congregation formed their first Official Board of stewards and elders.

Over the years the congregation increased from 70 members to 81 and it became clear that more room was needed for Sunday School and mid-week activities. When putting a basement under the existing basement proved impossible, the decision was made to tear down the old church and build a new one.

It was a pleasant summer day in July 1927 that the corner stone for the new building was laid by Mrs. John Kennedy of Chalmers United Church, Guelph. The silver trowel used on that occasion was given to the Aberfoyle congregation as a keepsake and is with the congregation at Morriston.

On October 20, 1936, on the sixtieth anniversary of the charge, the mortgage for the new church was burned, just nine years after its building.

Since 1876, Aberfoyle has seen and has been part of many changes. After being in the circuit of Flamborough, Aberfoyle came to be connected with Ebenezer, Campbellville and Moffat. In 1910, it was Aberfoyle, Ebenezer and Corwhin. As part of the United Church of Canada, Aberfoyle was first on her own, then formed a three-point charge with Freelton and Strabane. After that Aberfoyle was on her own once more under the ministry of Mr. A. W. Bowden. During the next years Aberfoyle and Morriston were served by student ministers until 1975 when the two churches came together to form what is now known as the Mount Carmel-Zion United Church.

Over the years many ministers have served the Aberfoyle people. Many people served their Lord in the Aberfoyle church and many will carry with them memories of the Aberfoyle church and its mission of worship, praise and service of Almighty God.

Ministers

Joseph Harlacher
Philip Miller
John Staebler
J. D. Jenne 1868-70, 1876-1881
D. Dippel
George Brown
J. Wagner
William Schmidt
H. Holtzman
C. A. Thomas
Solomon Weber
Phillip Winkler 1873-1874
W. Schwandt 1874-76
Theobold Houch
D. Rider
H. Werner 1887-88
E. Eby 1881-91
C. S. Finkbeiner 1892-94
Jacob Wilhelm 1894-95
A. W. Sauer 1895-98
S. Krupp
W. E. Beese 1905-08
J. C. Morlock 1908-11
C. R. Kauth 1911-12
S. M. Hauch 1912-13
D. Kreh 1914-1917
Milton Giel
F. A. Lawson
A. T. Nash 1917-21
L. Wittich 1921-24

Early Members

ANDERSON Ada born 1860 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married William

ANDERSON William born 1856 Ontario 1881 farmer living Puslinch Twp. married Ada

APPLETON Gertrude born 1858 England 1881 music teacher living Puslinch Twp.

BROWN Bernard born 1820 Germany 1881 shoemaker living Puslinch Twp. married Margaret

BROWN Bernard Bernard Margaret born 1862 Ontario 1881 labourer living Puslinch Twp. twin brother of George

BROWN Charles Bernard Margaret born 1866 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

BROWN George Bernard Margaret born 1862 Ontario 1881 labourer living Puslinch Twp. twin brother of Bernard

BROWN Margaret born 1831 Germany 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married Bernard

BROWN Solomon Bernard Margaret born 1857 Ontario 1881 butcher living Puslinch Twp.

BROWN William Bernard Margaret born 1865 Ontario 1881 butcher living Puslinch Twp.

COUSINS Charles born 1827 England 1871 shoemaker farmer living Puslinch Twp. Con 7 Lot 22 1881 showmaker living Puslinch Twp. married Elizabeth

COUSINS Elizabeth born 1826 England 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married Charles

COUSINS Hannah born 1860 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married William

COUSINS William Charles Elizabeth born 1859 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married Hannah

FALCONBRIDGE Arkell B. son of Blair, was Clerk of Puslinch Tp. 1911-1922

FALCONBRIDGE Blair Samuel Sarah born 1845 Ontario 1851 attending school living Puslinch Twp. 1871 farmer living Puslinch Twp. Con 7 Lot 22 kept his father's store and was postmaster (the post office was this family's until 1976), 1887-1905 Treasurer of Puslinch Twp. 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

FALCONBRIDGE Catherine Samuel Sarah born 1849 Ontario 1851 living Puslinch Twp.

FALCONBRIDGE Pelham Samuel Sarah born 1843 Ontario attending school living Puslinch Twp. 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

FALCONBRIDGE Sarah born 1810 United States 1851 living Puslinch Twp. 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married Samuel

FALCONBRIDGE Samuel born 1811 Ireland 1851 merchant living Puslinch Twp. 1 Story, 1 Family Frame House 1871 postmaster Aberfoyle farmer living Puslinch Twp. Con 7 Lot 21 1851 arrived from Niagara Falls where he had kept a store, and bought the store at Aberfoyle from John MacFarlane. 1856-1887 Treasurer of Puslinch Twp. 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married Sarah

FINKBINER Bena born 1853 Germany 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married George

FINKBINER Cathrina George Bena born 1880 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

FINKBINER George born 1851 Germany 1881 stone mason living Puslinch Twp. married Bena

FINKBINER Matilda George Bena born 1876 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

FOITZ Charles (?) Elizabeth born 1869 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

FOITZ Elizabeth born 1832 Germany 1881 widow living Puslinch Twp.

FOITZ Jacob (?) Elizabeth born 1857 Ontario 1881 blacksmith living Puslinch Twp.

FOITZ John (?) Elizabeth born 1860 Ontario 1881 wagonmaker living Puslinch Twp.

FOITZ Louisa (?) Elizabeth born 1867 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

FOITZ Matilda (?) Elizabeth born 1865 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

FOITZ William (?) Elizabeth born 1862 Ontario 1881 blacksmith living Puslinch Twp.

GAYER Bertha John Mary born 1874 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

GAYER Catherine John Mary born 1872 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

GAYER John born 1835 Germany 1881 boot and showmaker living Puslinch Twp. married Mary

GAYER Lily John Mary born 1877 Ontario

GAYER Louisa John Mary born 1864 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

GAYER Mary born 1839 Germany 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married John

GAYER Mary John Mary born 1869 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

GAYER Wilhemena John Mary born 1879 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

INGRAM Annie Thomas Elizabeth born 1880 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

INGRAM Elizabeth born 1859 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married Thomas

INGRAM Myrtle Thomas Elizabeth born 1879 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

INGRAM Thomas born 1859 Ontario 1881 baliff living Puslinch Twp. married Elizabeth

JOHNSON Phillip born 1853 Ontario 1881 tinsmith living Puslinch Twp. married Priscilla

JOHNSON Gertrude Phillip Priscilla born 1879 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

JOHNSON Leroy Phillip Priscilla born 1880 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

JOHNSON Priscilla born 1859 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married Phillip

LEICH Frank Hubart Susan born 1870 USA 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

LEICH Hubart born 1834 Germany (Prussia) 1881 stone cutter living Puslinch Twp. married Susan

LEICH Isabella Hubart Susan born 1874 USA 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

LEICH Susan born 1845 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married Hubart

LESLIE Bertha George Maryanne born 1878 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

LESLIE Charles Geore Maryanne born 1880 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

LESLIE George born 1852 Ontario 1881 farmer living Puslinch Twp. married Maryanne

LESLIE John George Maryanne born 1879 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

LESLIE Maryanne born 1854 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married George

MUNCH Matilda Peter (?) born 1854 USA 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

MUNCH Peter born 1802 Germany 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

MUNCH Sarah Peter (?) born 1852 USA 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

MUNCH William Peter (?) born 1848 USA 1881 farmer living Puslinch Twp.

RAPPOLT Fredricka born 1860 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married Otto

RAPPOLT Otto born 1857 Germany 1881 stonemason living Puslinch Twp. married Fredricka

REID Azalea William Maryann born 1875 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

REID Flossie William Maryann born 1877 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

REID Leslie W. William Maryann born 1870 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

REID Maryann born 1845 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married William

REID William arrived 1831 1841 farmer living Puslinch Twp. Con 4 Lot 15

REID William born 1846 Ontario 1881 labourer living Puslinch Twp. married Maryann

SCHULTZ Catherine S. Jacob Sophia born 1871 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp. 1892 Living Puslinch Twp. and was married to Christian A. Morlock on January 27, 1892 at Morriston

SCHULTZ Jacob born 1836 Germany 1881 farmer living Puslinch Twp. married Sophia

SCHULTZ Jacob Jacob Sophia born 1867 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

SCHULTZ Mary Anne Jacob Sophia born 1869 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp. 1892 living Puslinch Twp. was witness at her sister Catharine's wedding to Christian A. Morlock on January 27, 1892 at Morriston

SCHULTZ Sophia born 1839 Germany 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married Jacob

SCHULTZ William Jacob Sophia born 1865 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp. 1901 farmer living Puslinch married Frederika (Barth)

STAHL Andrew born 1811 Germany 1841 living Puslinch Twp. 1881 labourer living Puslinch Twp. married Sophia

STAHL Sophia born 1806 Germany 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married Andrew

THEILE Jacob born 1834 Germany 1881 labourer living Puslinch Twp. married Margaret

THEILE John Jacob Margaret born 1867 Germany 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

THEILE Margaret born 1828 Germany 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married Jacob

WISE Frank born 1870 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

WISE George born 1861 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

WISE Rosanna born 1855 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

WRIGHT Jacob born 1828 Ontario 1881 farmer living Puslinch Twp. married Margaret

WRIGHT Janet Jacob Margaret born 1867 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

WRIGHT Joseph Jacob Margaret born 1864 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.

WRIGHT Margaret born 1829 Ireland 1881 living Puslinch Twp. married Jacob

WRIGHT Margaret Jacob Margaret born 1859 Ontario 1881 living Puslinch Twp.