Wellington County Methodists 1825-1925

In 1846, the Primitive Methodists had built a chapel on Waterloo Street, but with the rapid growth of the town, by 1863 they required new quarters. A early historian gives this short summary of the congregation's history:

Their second church building was on Paisley Street, and was known as the Paisley Street Primitive Methodist Church. The land was purchased during the pastorate of Rev. Thomas Adams, on the 6th. of November, 1863, and the contract for the new church awarded to Joseph Ryan...The original trustees were: William Welsh, John Hockin, Joseph Ryan, William Brown and Charles Cousins.

The Town of Guelph Directory of 1873 gives this information:

The church (Paisley St. Primitive Methodist) was built in 1864...Mr. Rickaby is leader of the choir; Organist - Miss Jane Hoskin; Pastor - Rev. George Wood, Trustees - William Welsh, Jno. Hoskin, William Brown, William Graham, Joseph Ryan. Sunday School teacher, Robert Easton and staff of twelve. Congregation about 200. Until the erection of the new building, the congregation met in the old brick church, east of the G.T. railway track, afterwards converted into a melodeon factory.

In 1883, the church entered the union of the Methodist bodies in Canada.

Religious Affiliation in Guelph, 1840-1851

Ministers (dates approximate)

1846-1847 Matthew Nicholls

NICHOLLS, Matthew Primitive Methodist, 1844 Bethel/Scarborough Circuit (York Co.), 1846-1847 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.)

1847 William F. Bradley

BRADLEY, William F. was born in 1830 in England, Primitive Methodist, 1847 Paisley St. Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1871 West Garafraxa (Wellington Co.)

1848-1850 John Towler

TOWLER, John was born in 1812 in England, Primitive Methodist, 1848-1851 Paisley St. Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1871 Brantford (Brant Co.)

1848-1850 William Gledhill

GLEDHILL, William, Primitive Methodist, 1848-1850 Paisley St. Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1851 Brampton,

1851 Robert Parsons

PARSONS, Robert Campbell was born in 1831 in Ontario and died in 1923 Primitive Methodist, 1851 Bay Street Toronto, 1851-1853 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1871 Welland, 1880 Southwold/London,

1854-1855 John Davison

DAVISON, John Primitive Methodist, Editor of "Evangelist" on King St in 1851 in Hamilton, church on Hughson St., 1851 General Superintendent Hamilton District, 1854-1855 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1866 Toronto Mission Bookroom and editor Christian Journal at 35 King St. E., and was living on Yonge St. at College Ave.

1854-1855 Thomas Dudley

DUDLEY, Thomas was born in 1821 in England, Methodist Episcopal, 1854-1855 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.) 1871 Brant Twp. (Bruce Co.)

1856-1857 Richard Paul

PAUL, Richard was born in 1827 in England, Primitive Methodist, 1856-1857 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.) 1871 Oneida (Haldimand Co.), 1877 Milliken's Corners/Scarborough Circuit (York Co.), 1893 Brussels

1857-1858 William Newton

NEWTON, William was born in 1820 in England, Primitive Methodist, 1851 Hughson Street Hamilton, 1857-1858 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.) 1858 Plattsville, 1865-1866 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1871 Caradoc (Middlesex Co.),

1858-1861 Thomas Adams

ADAMS, Thomas was born in 1807 in England, Primitive Methodist, 1851 Reach, 1853 Brantford (Brant Co.), received 1859, 1858-1861 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1863 Hollen Maryborough (Wellington Co.), 1863 Lindsay, 1867 Long Island Locks, 1869 Galt, 1871 Galt,

1861-1864 Timothy Nattrass

NATTRASS, Timothy, Primitive Methodist, 1858 Galt, 1861-1864 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.)

1863 Thomas Adams

1864-1865 George Haigh

HAIGHT, George Lewis, was received on trial in 1862 at Wellesley, Wesleyan Methodist, 1861 Markham (York Co.), 1863 Erin (Wellington Co.), 1864 Peel (Wellington Co.), 1864 joined Primitive Methodist, 1864-1865 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1870 Paris (Brant Co.)

1865-1866 William Newton

1866-1869 George Wood

WOOD, George was born in 1826 in England, Primitive Methodist, 1866-1869 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1871 King (York Co.), 1871-1874 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.)

1869-1870 John W. Gilpin

GILPIN, John W. was born in 1838 in Ireland, Primitive Methodist, 1869-1870 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1871 Bosaquet Tp. (Lampton Co.),1911-1914 Belwood Garafraxa (Wellington Co.)

1870-1871 Thomas Crompton

CROMPTON, Thomas was born in 1817 in England, Primitive Methodist, 1866 Toronto Circuit/Stouffville (York Co.), 1870-1871 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), buried in Hamilton, Wentworth

1871-1874 George Wood

1874-1877 Eli Middleton

MIDDLETON Eli was born in 1845 in England and died on May 17 1924 in Toronto and was buried in Prospect Cemetery, Toronto Ontario, Primitive Methodist, He came to Canada around 1867, 1870 Malvern/Scarborough Circuit (York Co.), 1874-1877 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), (Christian Guardian) Late Rev. Eli Middleton born England about 79 years ago died May 17 1924 Toronto Ontario, buried Prospect Cemetery, Toronto Ontario, came to Canada around 1867, survived by wife and 1 son Jesse E. of Toronto Ontario

1877-1878 William Bee

BEE, William was born in 1827 in Weirdale, Cty of Durham England, and died January 7, 1905 in Toronto. He was married in 1852 to Jane Martindale in England and they had eight children. They emigrated to Canada in 1856. Primitive Methodist, 1857-1858 Pilkington/Peel/Woolwich Tp. (Wellington Co.), 1862 Drumbo (Oxford Co.), 1866 Collins Bay, 1869 Albion, 1871 Reach (Ontario Co.), 1877-1878 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.)

1878-1880 Henry Harris

HARRIS, Henry was born in 1832 in England, Primitive Methodist, 1871 Toronto, 1878-1880 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.),

1880-1883 J.W. Robinson

ROBINSON, J.W. was born in 1844 in England, Primitive Methodist, 1871 Albion (Cardwell), 1877 Milliken's Corners/Scarborough Circuit (York Co.), 1880-1883 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), (Christian Guardian) Late Rev. James E. Hunter was born on Aug 27 1870 in Huron Twp, Bruce Co. Ontario and died on Jul 14 1924 in Granton Ontario and was buried Woodland Cemetery, London Ontario. He was survived by his wife (daughter of late Rev J.W. Robinson), 2 daughters Alma and Beth, a brother Rev. William Hunter and 4 sisters

1880-1883 Jabez H. Dyke

DYKE, Jabez H. Primitive Methodist, 1880-1883 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1909-1910 Mt. Pleasant Nichol Tp. (Wellington Co.),

1883-1886 William Savage D.D.

SAVAGE, William D.D. was born in 1819 in England and was received on trial in 1854-1856 at Belmont, Wesleyan Methodist, 1854 Zion/Moorefield Maryborough Twp. (Wellington Co.), 1855 Belmont, ordained in 1857-1858 at Mr. Brydges, 1859-1861 Florence/Sydenham/Wardsville, 1862-1863 Peel, 1864-1865 Ellis Church Puslinch (Welllington Co.), 1864-1865 Berlin (Waterloo Co.), 1866 Brewer's Mills, 1867-1868 Elgin, 1869-1871 Cayuga, 1871 Seneca (Haldimand Co.), 1872-1874 Smithville, 1875-1877 Port Dover, 1878-1881 Clifford (Wellington Co.), 1883-1886 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1904-1906 Trustee Norfolk St. Guelph

1886-1889 George H. Cobbledick

COBBLEDICK, George H. was born near Orono Ontario and died Oct 25 1922 Calgary Alberta, 1886-1889 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.),(Christian Guardian) He was injured in auto accident and died hours later spent most of life in Ontario survived by wife and 3 children, (Christian Guardian) Obituary - Joseph Cobbledick was born near Orono Ontario age 5 moved to Middlesex Co. He married in 1873 Miss Catherine Jane Guest of London and moved to Exeter where wife predeceased him. He then married Mrs. Eliza Walsh Tyerman of Orono Ontario who died on Oct 8 1923 in Calgary AB, age 73 years old and was buried at Exeter Ontario. In 1906 he moved to Calgary AB and was predeceased by first wife and brother. Rev. G.H. Cobbledick (died 1922) survived by widow, son Nelson B of Toronto Ontario, Mrs A. G. Austin of Calgary AB, and Mrs. Dr. Stevenson of Wetaskiwin

1889-1892 William H. Harvey

HARVEY, William H. Primitive Metodist, 1889-1892 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1924 Waterloo (Christian Guardian) Late Dr. Edwin Earle Harvey, M.D. was born in Atwood Ontario and died on May 20 1924 at home in Peterboro Ontario. In 1893 he was practicing medicine at Norwich and in 1915 moved to Peterboro Ontario. He was survived by widow (Miss Isobel McKay of Port Hope Ontario), 2 daughters: Miss Marion of Toronto Ontario and Mrs G. Clifton Carruthers of Peterboro Ontario, 3 sisters and 2 brothers (Rev. William H. Harvey of Waterloo is one)

1892-1893 J. Wesley Magwood

MAGWOOD, J. Wesley Primitive Methodist, 1892-1893 Paisley Street - Guelph (Wellington Co.), 1901-1903 Cumnock Nichol (Wellington Co.)

1893-1894 R.W. Humphreys
1894-1895 Thomas P. Perry
1895-1896 J.H. McBain
1896-1898 F.W. Thompson
1898-1901 J.F. Kay
1901-1903 J.M. Worrall
1900-1904 Thomas R Todd
1904-1905 D.A. Walker
1905-1908 F. Louis Barber D.D.
1905-1908 C.S. Cassmore
1908-1909 A.J. Elson
1909-1910 G.J.A. Rainey
1910-1911 C.S. Applegath
1911-1915 H.W. Avison
1915-1918 Isaac M. Moyer
1918-1922 N.A. Hurlburt
1922-1924 Robert Keefer
1924-1927 J.T. Heslop
1927-1931 J.U. Stewart
1931-1934 W.J. Fiddes
1934-1935 F.W. Mahaffy
1935-1939 C.C. Murray
1939-1847 George A. Wishart
1947-1951 G.I. VanLoon
1952 H.W. Avison
1952- 1956 James Telford
1956-1959 John Douglas
1959-1964 William W. Sherwin
1964 Cecil Carrochan
1965-1969 Ross E. Readhead
1969-1975 Albert W. Osborne
1975 Ben Johnson B.A., B.D.

BONE Thomas was born in 1834 in England 1881 labourer living Guelph married Mary Anne

BOWERS Harriet Joseph Sarah was born in 1875 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

BOWERS Joseph was born in 1822 in England 1881 teamster living Guelph married Sarah

CANDLER James was born in 1856 in England 1881 cabinetmaker living Guelph married Elizabeth

CELASKE Harry was born in 1874 in Ontario 1881 student living in Guelph at the home of Anna Clarke

CLARKE Annie born 1870 Ontario 1881 servant living Guelph at the home of Robert McKenzie

CLAY William born 1847 Ontario 1881 engine driver living Guelph married Elizabeth

DOUGHERTY Alexander (?) Margaret was born in 1848 in Ontario 1881 tanner living Guelph married Sarah

DOUGHERTY Sarah was born in 1853 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph married Alexander

FRANCIS Charles James W. Anna was born in 1872 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

FRANCIS Henry James W. Anna was born in 1868 in England 1881 clerk living Guelph

FRANCIS James W. was born in 1849 in England 1881 plasterer living Guelph married Anna

FRANCIS Jessie James W. Anna was born in 1870 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

GRAHAM Elisabeth William Jane was born in 1862 in the United States 1881 living Guelph

GRAHAM William was born in 1827 in England 1881 labourer living Guelph married Jane

GRAHAM William William Jane was born in 1859 in Ontario 1881 moulder living Guelph

HALES James was born in 1850 in England 1881 butcher living Guelph married Susan

HIGNELL Albert Henry Jane was born in 1861 in Ontario 1881 printer living Guelph

HIGNELL Henry was born in 1841 in England 1881 blacksmith living Guelph married Jane

HOCKIN Charles John Mary was born in 1856 in Ontario 1881 shoemaker living Guelph

HOCKIN Jane (Terrell) was born in 1853 in England 1881 living Guelph married Thomas

HOCKIN John was born in 1815 in England 1881 shoemaker living Guelph married Mary

HOCKIN John P. John Mary was born in 1860 in Ontario 1881 machinist living Guelph

HOCKIN Thomas John Mary was born in 1851 in England 1881 carpenter living Guelph married Jane Terrell

MARCH Eliza George Hannah was born in 1871 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

MARCH George George Hannah was born in 1875 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

MARCH George was born in 1847 in Germany 1881 labourer living Guelph married Hannah

MARCH William George Hannah was born in 1874 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

MARRIOTT Frances M. Henry Mary A. was born in 1877 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph

MARRIOTT Henry was born in 1853 in Ontario 1881 moulder living Guelph married Mary A.

MATTHEWS Fanny J. was born in 1861 in Ontario twin sister of Hannah M. 1881 living Guelph

MATTHEWS Hannah M. was born in 1861 in Ontario twin sister of Fanny J. 1881 dressmaker living Guelph

MONKMAN Eliza J. was born in 1859 in Ontario 1881 living in Guelph at the home of Rev. John W. Robinson

PEARSON Margaret was born in 1819 in Scotland 1881 living Guelph married William

PEARSON William was born in 1867 in England 1881 stonemason living Guelph married Margaret

PRINGLE Annie William Sarah A. was born in 1863 in Ontario 1881 milliner living Guelph

PRINGLE Margaret William Sarah A. was born in 1868 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph

PRINGLE William was born in 1825 in Ireland 1881 gardener living Guelph married Sarah A.

PRINGLE William William Sarah A. was born in 1865 in Ontario 1881 tailor living Guelph

PURNEL Mary born 1860 Ontario 1881 servant living Guelph at the home of Alex B. Petrie

ROBINSON John W. was born in 1843 in England 1881 clergyman living Guelph married Susanna

ROBINSON Louisa M. Rev. John W. Susanna was born in 1879 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph

ROBINSON Mary E. Rev. John W. Susanna was born in 1876 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph

ROBINSON Susanna was born in 1856 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph married Rev. John W.

SHAW Benjamin William Sarah was born in 1872 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

SHAW Elizabeth William Sarah was born in 1869 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

SHAW Joseph William Sarah was born in 1857 in Ontario 1881 plasterer living Guelph

SHAW Rolland William Sarah was born in 1866 in Ontario 1881 stonemason living Guelph

SHAW William was born in 1807 in England 1881 stonemason living Guelph married Sarah

SHAW William William Sarah was born in 1863 in Ontario 1881 painter living Guelph

STEPHENS James was born in 1812 in England 1881 joiner living Guelph married Jane

STEPHENS Selina James Jane was born in 1861 in Ontario 1881 tailoress living Guelph

THOMPSON John was born in 1851 in Ontario 1881 machinist living Guelph married Jane

WEBB George H. was born in 1849 in England 1881 melter living Guelph married Harriet

WELSH Annie William Henrietta was born in 1866 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

WELSH Charles William Henrietta was born in 1872 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

WELSH Frederick William Henrietta was born in 1877 in Ontario 1881 living Guelph

WELSH Henrietta William Henrietta was born in 1875 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

WELSH Louisa William Henrietta was born in 1870 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

WELSH William William Henrietta was born in 1868 in Ontario 1881 student living Guelph

WELSH William was born in 1824 in England 1881 tailor living Guelph married Henietta