The Church Building & Heritage Designations

This simple little church, built in 1821, is Methodist in origin.  It was first called “The Meeting House”, and then from 1844 on, the Wesleyan-Methodist Church.  In 1925 it became part of the United Church of Canada, formed through the union of the Methodists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians.  In 1939 it was renamed for the founder of Methodism in Canada, the pioneering preacher Rev. William Black.

Before our church was built, Methodist prayer meetings and Bible study had been held in the homes of members. The area was then known as Lower Ward, St. Margaret’s Bay.  This one and a half storey wooden shingled structure, was built in the Greek Revival style, with a medium pitched roof and constructed on a stone foundation.  Members of the church took part in construction with John Lambert, a local builder, directing. 

The late 1800’s were a difficult time for the little Methodist mission in what was called Glen Margaret after 1876. The loss of the newly repaired and renovated manse was compounded by the loss of members who had moved away from the area, and problems in the appointment of ministers.  By 1884, the church building had deteriorated to such a state that plans were made to sell the property and use the proceeds to restore the Sambro manse.  However a congregational decision was taken to keep the old structure, and major repairs and refurbishing were completed in 1895.

The church continued in use, altered and enhanced over its 203 years by many valued memorial gifts.  In the early years there was no organ and the choir sat in the balcony. Heating progressed from a wood stove in the centre of the aisle to an oil stove and now an oil furnace augmented with a heat pump.  The old plaster walls have given way to wall board.  The early cemetery surrounds the church and continues to be maintained by the congregation.  The church is still painted white, as it has always been, and Fraser’s Lake still can be seen through the old small paned windows.

Beams Tell the Tale - There was an analysis in 2006 of the wood beams in the church.  The report showed that most of the trees – they were all Eastern Hemlock – were cut down in 1820, which makes sense with the records that say the church was built in 1821. What is interesting is that two beams came from a tree that was nearly 300 years old when it was cut!

The Old Tree – there used to be a picket fence around the church.  But the road was getting so busy it was a safety concern.  That’s why the walkway was built. And it had to go around the old tree, of course.  That tree has seen all the history of the church, back to when it was a meeting house.

Heritage Property Designations - William Black Memorial United Church was designated a Provincial Heritage Building in 1995 and a Municipal Heritage property in 2005.  This recognizes not only congregational pride in this historic old church but also a commitment to preserve its beauty and usefulness for generations to come.