Ebenezer Chapel, and the White Brick Chapel…by Mrs. A. McCulloch
The Ebenezer Chapel was built soon after 1830 by the Methodist Episcopal faithfuls of “The Old Slide” who rejected the Bowman Wesleyan faith. Its location is not known, but it was probably on No. 53 Highway; and it was probably this same congregation who built The White Brick Church.
Elder Emerson Bristol (1813-1895) came to Halidmand County from Palmyra Township, N.Y., with his parents in 1829, and became a circuit ride six years later with the Methodist Episcopal Church. With his burning eloquence and his sweet singing voice, he made many converts and inspired many young men to become ministers. In 1852, he bought the north half of lot 39/4 Ancaster, but had difficulty getting possession of it. Family tradition has it that quick witted Mrs. Bristol got proof of possession by having one of her chairs put through the front window of the house on the property, in effect “planting her flag.”
As Presiding Elder, Mr. Bristol was away from home a lot yet he found time to plan the building of the White Brick Church onNo. 53 Highway east of Fiddlers Green Road, on the south end of lot 43/4, – land donated by John Rymal (1819-1859)
The White Brick Church was dedicated October 11, 1857, and thereafter rendered good service to the surrounding area until the 1884 union of all Methodist Churches, when it was closed except for the Sunday School, and Quarterly meetings which continued here until 1920. Since then, an anniversary Service has been held each June, when a full church honours the past workers whose bodies lie in the adjoining cemetery alongside Elder Bristol and many of his family.
Pine trees east of the church were used to build a church driveshed in 1903, but when horses and buggies went out of style, the shed was sold to Lafayette Smith.
Ministers:
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