Wellington County Methodists 1825-1925

The industrial and economic prosperity of the 1860's and early 1870's necessitated the construction of a second church for the Wesleyan Methodists. The cornerstone was laid for Dublin St. Methodist Church in July, 1874 by James Hough. This new church, constructed with the help of generous contributions from its members, opened on Jauary 20, 1876 in its present site at the corner of Dublin and Suffolk St.

Dublin Street's congregation originally was a direct offspring of Guelph's first Methodist Church, Norfolk Street, a Wesleyan congregation with close English connections. Norfolk's Official Board had first discussed the possibility of building an additional church in Guelph's expanding northwestern suburbs in 1871. The "new enterprise" was formally launched on August 22, 1872, with the appointment of a Board of Trustees from among Norfolk's members, but this new board's function was only to plan and build the new church. Board members such as J.W.B. Kelly who operated a planing mill on the Speed River, continued to sit on the Quarterly oard of the Guelph Circuit (actually the Norfolk Street Offical Board) which was responsible for what was still considered to be one congregation. Rev. J.B. Howard, Norfolk's Minister, chaired meetings of both boards as they made decisions regarding the new church.

The church extension project began in a spirit of local optimism for the 1870's were a decade of unparalled growth in Guelph. Major industries such as the Bell Organ Company and the Raymond Sewing Machine Company started their operations. It was a decade of church building by most denominations with the completion of Knox Presyterian, Chalmers Presyterian, St. George's Anglican and the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady. For local Methodists it was also a time of healing internal denominational divisions with the uniting of several Wesleyan groups in 1874. The spirit of union continued ten years later when the Methodist Church of Canada was formed, which meant that Primitive Methodists and their Paisley Street congregation were now part of the same denomination as the Wesleyans.

The original location chosen for the new church was on McTague Street but this later changed to the corner of Dublin and Suffolk Streets where several lots were available in the midst of a substantial neighbourhood. The location probably tended to give the church a low profile in the commuity compared to the rather prominent settings of most of the other churches.

The plans for the building were drawn up by a Toronto firm of architects, Smith and Gemmell, well-known for both commercial and religious buildings in Toronto. They were building the spectacular Knox College on Spadina at that time. Their designs for a modified Gothic structure were approved after Mr. Smith came to Guelph to explain the plans to the board in November, 1873. The board was somewhat dismayed by the high bids they received from contractors and the original idea of a white brick building was shelved when local limestone proved to be less expensive. The stonework was contracted to Pearson and Sons for $7,225, and the carpentry to Stephen Boult for $6,582. In 1874, William Pearson mentioned above, also built himself a home at 74-76 Liverpool Street, and was the builder of a house at 93-95 Nottingham Street.

On July 9, 1874, the cornerstone was laid with appropriate ceremony, with the honour going to James Hough, a prominent member of Norfolk's board. The Rev. W.H. Poole of Toronto was reported to have given an "eloquent and impressive address sketching the rise and progress of the Church of God in ages past," and he concluded "by calling on the people to contribute liberally towards the bulwark of the nation."

Construction proceeded throughout 1875 while the potential members still worshipped at Norfolk. An additional expense was an organ purchased from a Woodstock company for $2,000. The compressor of this organ had to be operated maually and a boy was usually hired to do this job for $5 a year. The organization of the front of the church was typical of Methodist churches of the time, with the pulpit at floor level and the choir behind the pulpit on a fairly high platfrom. Other items on the church grounds reflected the age - outdoor privies and a shed for horses and carriages.

The estimated cost of the church and property was about $26,000, most of which was borrowed, probably in the hope that future growth of the congregation and the town would justify such an ambitious venture. The completed building was officially opened on January 20, 1876.

An indication of the congregation's goals and sympathies may be inferred from the choice of the opening speaker, Dr. Egerton Ryerson, Canada's most illustrious Methodist. Ryerson was best known for his advocacy of a comprehensive public school system but he also championed the church's role in reforming society.

Norfolk and Dublin did not separate into two congregations until July 7, 1877, after the combined Official Board had recommended that "the time has arrived when it is expediant to divide the Guelph Circuit so as to form two circuits", Until that time the senior Ministers at Norfolk, Rev. Howard, succeeded by Rev. E.B. Ryckman, and several junior ministers, served at both buildings and seem to have interchanged pulpits.

In the year 1900 the church celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary and rejoiced in the fact that the church was now firmly established, having braved the storms and discouragements incident to the founding of a new church.

In the year 1914 a move was made to celebrate the fortieth anniversary by installing a new pipe organ. The undertaking seemed to be too great for the congregation to finance, and several of the official members expressed their opposition to the undertaking, of what appeared to be the impossible. A committee was struck and their chairman C.W. Kelly, who was determined to win, worked like trojans, and with the help of the Carnegie Co-operative Fund succeeded in raising enough money to buy the organ and install it; also a new seating arrangement, unique in design, for the choir, with a balance of $700.00 which was applied to the reduction of the mortgage debt.

In the early part of the year 1919 an event took place which meant much to Dublin Street Church. From the time of the building of the church, a more or less heavy mortgage had been carried by the Board. This had been gradually reduced to $2,300.00. A "Friend in need," in the person of Mr. Joseph A. Tovell, came forward and offered to pay off the mortgage. The offer was gladly accepted and in March, at a special service, the mortgage was burned. Mr. Tovell having the honor of applying the match. Dublin Street Church was then free of debt.

The Recording Steward from organization until 1906 was Mr. Alfred Smith. The membership at the end of the first independent year, 1877-1878, was 228; in 1904-1905, 509.

HOWARD, Isaac Brock was born in 1819 and was received on trial in 1841 at Hamilton, died in 1886 and was buried in Oshawa Union Cemetery, South Presbyterian, Section A, Whitby East, Durham. Wesleyan Methodist, 1840 Oxford, 1841 Binbrook, 1842 Cobourg, 1843 Kingston, 1844 Ancaster/Hamilton, 1845-1846 Belleville (Hastings Co.), 1847-1848 Ernestown/Bath/Kingston, 1849 Grimsby, 1849-1851 Monaghan (Peterborough Co.), 1852-1854 E. Flamborough, 1853-1854 Secretary of the Conference, 1852-1854 Dundas, 1855-1857 Brantford/Paris, 1858-1859 Montreal West, 1860 Montreal Centre, 1861-1863 Toronto East, 1864 Grantham Twp. Niagara, 1864-1866 St. Catharines, 1866-1869 Chairman Brockville, 1869 Elizabethtown (Leeds Co.), 1870 Brockville, 1870-1872 Port Hope (Durham Co.), 1871 Peterborough, 1873-1875 Norfolk St./Dublin St. Guelph (Wellington Co.) Chairman of District, 1876 Dundas, 1877-1878 Paris/Brantford (retired), 1880-1882 Millbrook (retired), Secretary of Conference 1854, Journal Secretary of Conference from 1857 to 1880 inclusive, Delegate to First General Conference Toronto 1874, Chairman of District 1874-1875,

LANCELEY, John Ellis was born on January 10, 1848 in Birkenhead, England and died in 1900 and was buried in Baltimore United Cemetery, Hamilton Twp., (Northumberland Co.). He came to Canada in 1856 with his father. In 1877 he married Miss Caroline Eliza Ward who was born in 1860 in Clifton Ontario (Niagara Falls) and her mother was Mrs Caroline Ward. He was received on trial in 1871 at Aurora, 1870 Washington/Plattsville, 1871 Aurora, 1872 Chatham, 1873 Dundas. He was ordained 1874-1875 Norfolk Street/Dublin Street Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1875 Clifton/Niagara Falls, 1876-1878 London/Petersville, 1879 St. Thomas Second, 1880-1881 Dunnville, 1883 Burlington 1885-1887 Thorold, 1888-1891 Toronto,

RYCKMAN, Edward Badshaw M.A. D.D. graduated Victoria College in 1855 and was received on trial in 1856 at Yonge Street, 1856-1857 Yonge Street Circuit, ordained in 1858-1859 at Montreal, 1860-1862 Odelltown, 1863-1865 Huntingdon, 1866-1868 Kingston, 1869-1870 Chairman Stanstead, 1871-1872 Chatham (Kent Co.) Chairman, 1873-1875 Governor Dundas West Collegiate Institute, 1876-1878 Norfolk St. Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1879-1881 Brantford - Wellington Street, 1906 Almonte, A graduate of Victoria University - B.A., 1855, Valedictorian M.A. 1868, Journal Secretary of Conference 1867-1871, Delegate to First General Conference Toronto 1874, Chairman of District, 1876 to 1880, President of the Conference 1878, Delegate to the General Conference Montreal 1878, Honourary degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by the University of Victoria College May 1879, Delegate elect. to Ecumenical Congress held in London England September 1881.

BROCK, Thomas was born in 1837 in Ireland and was received on trial in 1858 at Mount Brydges, Wesleyan Methodist, 1959 Romney, 1860 New Ireland, 1861 student at Victoria College Cobourg, ordained in 1862 at Newcastle, 1863 Newburg/Ernestown, 1863 Clarke Twp. (Durham Co.), 1864 Clinton, 1865 Galt, 1866 Georgetown, 1867 Milton, 1868 Kingston, 1869-1870 Packenham/Arnprior (Renfrew Co.), 1871-1873 Perth/Drummond (Lanark Co.), 1874-1876 Clinton, 1877-1878 Dublin Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1879-1880 Oxford Street - Brantford (Brant Co.), Delegate to the General Conference of 1878, Financial Secretary 1877 to 1880

MAXWELL, William J. was born in 1844 in Plympton (Lambton Co.) and died in 1894. He was received on trial in 1872 at Watford, Wesleyan Methodist, 1868-1872 Watford (Lambton Co.), 1873 Parkhill (Middlesex Co.), 1875 Norfolk St. Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1876 St Catharines, 1879-1881 Dublin St Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1882 Brantford (Brant Co.), 1889 President Niagara Conference married Jane and they had one son William J. in 1871

KEEFER, Benjamin B. was received on trial in 1869 at Grimsby, Wesleyan Methodist, 1868 Thorold, 1870 Brantford, ordained in 1871-1872 at North Street - London, 1873-1875 Brant Avenue - Brantford (Brant Co.), 1876-1877 Norfolk Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1877-1878 Zion Tabernacle - Hamilton, 1879-1880 Petersville/London, 1881 Dublin Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), withdrew 1892, Ottawa 1906, Financial Secretary 1879

SCOTT, John G. B.A. M.A. was born in 1848 in Ontario and was received on trial in 1866, Wesleyan Methodist, 1867 Victoria Coolege Cobourg, 1868 Berlin (Waterloo Co.), 1869 Peel (Wellington Co.), 1870 Elora ((Wellington Co.), ordained in 1871-1873 at Listowel, 1872 Maryborough Twp. (Wellington Co.), 1873 Brampton (Peel Co.), 1874 Lowville, 1874-1875 Arthur/Harriston (Welllington Co.), 1875 Washington, 1876-1877 Berlin/Minto Twp. (Wellington Co.), 1877 Principal, Wesleyan College, Dundas, 1878-1881 Carlisle, 1882-1884 Dublin St Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1887 London, 1888 Berlin (Waterloo Co.), 1889 went to Japan as a missionary, 1896-1898 Norfolk St. Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1906 Superintendent Ingersoll. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery - Block E, Guelph, (Wellington Co.), Mrs. Scott died October 16, 1900 at Ingersoll, Received his degree of M.A. in course from Victoria University, May 1877

GRIFFIN, William Smith D.D. was born in 1827 in Waterdown and was received as a Methodist New Connexion minister in 1849 at Seneca. He was the son of Ebenezer Griffin and grandson of Smith Griffin, became Wesleyan Methodist in 1850 at Norfolk Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1851 Grimsby, 1852 St. Catharines/Thorold, ordained 1853 at Brantford, 1854-1856 Mount Pleasant, "In those years, namely, '54-55 and '55-56, I had no colleague. I believe the (Conference) Minutes say 'one to be sent'; but none was sent. I worked the circuit alone, and had glorious success." 1856 Drummondville, 1857-1859 Simcoe, 1860-1862 Paris (Brant Co.), 1863-1864 Woodstock, 1865-1866 Port Hope, 1867-1868 Norfolk Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1869 Chairman Guelph District, 1870-1872 St. John's - Toronto, 1873-1877 Chairman Chatham, 1876-1878 King Street - Hamilton, 1879-1880 First St. Catharines, 1882-1884 Norfolk St. Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1879 re-dedicated church at Beaverdams Thorold, 1885-1887 Dublin St Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1888-1891 Stratford, 1906 treasurer Superannuation Fund Toronto, in 1906 his membership was still retained at Norfolk St. Methodist Church Guelph (Wellington Co.), Delegate to First General Conference Toronto 1874, Secretary of Conference 1876, Chairman of District 1874-1875 and 1878 to 1880, Delegate to General Conference of 1878, President of Conference 1879

1886-1887 A.K. Birks L.L.B.
1887 John Carson
1888-1890 G.R. Turk
1892-1894 Andrew Cunningham
1894-1897 Samuel Sellery B.A. B.D.
1898-1900 J.S. Ross D.D.
1901-1904 Theo J. Parr M.A.
1905-1907 W.J. Smith
1907-1909 Robert H. Bell
1909-1911 G.W. Barker
1911-1915 Rev. Christie
1915-1920 W.A. Walker
1921-1823 J.E. Todd
1923-1925 Roy Frid B.A. B.D

Surname Given Name Father Mother Birthplace Birth Date Baptism Date Death Date Minister

AINSWORTH Almon was born in 1801 in the United States 1881 widower carpenter living Guelph

AINSWORTH Otis was born in 1842 in the United States 1881 shipping clerk living Guelph

ARMSTRONG William was born in 1879 in Ontario 1881 living in Guelph with his adopted parents Daniel and Elizabeth Robins

BALLZER Catherine George Catherine was born in 1870 in the United States 1881 student living Guelph

BALLZER George was born in 1839 in Ontario 1881 carpenter living Guelph married Catherine

BALLZER Georgina George Catherine was born in 1880 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph

BALLZER Lina George Catherine was born in 1873 in the United States 1881 student living Guelph

BARBER Thomas was born in 1855 in Ontario 1881 labourer living Guelph married Mary

BARKER Charles A.W. George Arthur Jane was born in 1877 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph

BARKER Frank H. George Arthur Jane was born in 1878 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph

BARKER George Arthur was born in 1854 in Buffalo, Erie Cty., New York, U.S.A. and died in November 1914 in Granum, Alberta He was married to Jane Kelly on June 22, 1875 by Rev. Isaac Brock Howard at Norfolk St. Methodist Church, 1881 organ builder living near Church of Our Lady in Guelph 1900 Trustee

BARKER George F. George Arthur Jane was born in 1880 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph

BARKER Jane (Kelly) was born in 1854 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph married George Arthur

BECHMAN John was born in 1851 in Ontario 1881 carpenter living Guelph married Mary J.

BELFRY Philo was born in 1812 in the United States 1881 widower gentleman living Guelph

BENNIS Ellen William Sarah was born in 1866 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

BENNIS Fred William Sarah was born in 1869 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

BENNIS Herbert William Sarah was born in 1871 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

BENNIS Jessie William Sarah was born in 1874 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

BENNIS William William Sarah was born in 1867 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

BENNIS William was born in 1839 in England 1881 book agent living Guelph married Sarah

BOIFOUILLET Charles William William H. Mary Annetta was born in 1880 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph

BOIFOUILLET Mary Annetta was born in 1855 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph married William H.

BOIFOUILLET Viola Annetta William H. Mary Annetta was born in 1878 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph

BOIFOUILLET William H. was born in 1855 in the United States 1881 assistan superintendent iron works living Guelph married Mary Annetta

BOLLERT Ernest Robert born July 9, 1859 Suhl Germany 1879 merchant in Guelph after 6 years in the dry goods business in Harriston Sunday School Superintendent 1900 Dublin St Official Board

BOWEN Daniel was born in 1848 in the United States 1881 storekeeper living Guelph married Augusta

BOWEN Orlanda Daniel Augusta was born in 1875 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

BRESHEN Joseph was born in 1855 in Ontario 1881 fish monger living Guelph married Carrie

BRETT George O. was born in 1851 in England 1881 produce dealer living Guelph married Alma

BRETT William George O. Alma was born in 1874 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

BRIMFIELD Annie May Jesse Elisabeth C. was born in 1878 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph

BRIMFIELD Elisabeth C. was born in 1846 in England 1881 living Guelph married Jesse

BRIMFIELD George W. Jesses Elisabeth C. was born in 1874 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph

BRIMFIELD Jesse was born in 1844 in England 1881 machinist living Guelph married Elisabeth C.

BRYDGES Florence Elsie William Florence was born on April 6, 1894 in Ontario and was baptized on May 15, 1894 at Guelph by Rev. A. Cunningham

BRYDGES Gertrude Brydges William Florence was born on January 15, 1893 in Ontario and was baptized on May 15, 1894 at Guelph by Rev. A. Cunningham

BRYDGES Jessie William Florence was born on January 15, 1893 in Ontario and was baptized on May 15, 1894 at Guelph by Rev. A. Cunningham

BUCKLER Edmond Thomas Ann Jane was born in 1867 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

BUCKLER Thomas was born in 1841 in Ontario 1881 carpenter living Guelph married Ann Jane

BURR Emma C. was born in 1838 in the United States 1881 living Guelph married Frank C.

BURR Frank C. was born in 1838 in the United States 1881 furniture manufacturer living Guelph married Emm C.

BURR Jeannie E. Myron Warren Helen was born in 1880 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph

BURR Lizzie E. Frank C. Emma C. was born in 1868 in the United States 1881 living Guelph

BURR Myron Warren was born in 1842 in the United States 1881 furniture manufacturer living Guelph married Helen choir member 1900 Dublin St Official Board

BUSBY John was born in 1831 in England 1881 labourer living Guelph married Myrna

BUSBY Samuel John Myrna was born in 1860 in Ontario 1881 farmer living Guelph Twp.

CAMPBELL Archibald was born in 1845 in Ontario 1881 saddler living Guelph married Jane

CHIPCHASE Albert Haines William Jane was born in 1878 in Guelph and died in 1946 at Guelph

CHIPCHASE Howard Haines was born in 1908 and died in 1990 at Guelph He was the son of Albert who was a Baptist minister in California USA

CHIPCHASE, William T. was born in 1832 in the United States 1871 living Guelph Twp. married Jane Haines 1874 Offical Board of Dublin St.

Dublin Street Methodist Church