How the History of the BME Church Brings Guelph’s Black Community Together 130 Years Later

By Amanda Conibear, Katarina Furundzic, Alexandra Nigh, and Rocky Su 

Introduction to the BME Church

Guelph’s British Methodist Episcopal (BME) Church has a long history that traces back to 1880 when a thriving Black community once resided in Guelph. The church was not only a community hub for events and gatherings of all kinds, but also housed a school for students ranging from grades one to eight. Although made by and for the Black community on Essex St, all were welcome. This post delves into the history of the BME church in Guelph, telling the story of the Black community that the church nurtured and brought together and still brings together to this day. The role that the BME church played on Essex St in Guelph was so important and impactful for the everyday life of Guelph’s historic Black community that even now, the church’s original congregants come together every Black History Month to celebrate the heritage, accomplishments, and cultural institutions of Guelph’s Black community.

History

The construction of the BME church on 83 Essex Street embodies a history of black suffering and struggle and is a symbol of hope and freedom. The root of this BME church is an AME church located in Peel Township built by pioneer fugitive slaves reaching Canada through the Underground Railroad (Wells). In 1856, the name AME was shifted to BME because those settlers associated the British territory in Canada with freedom from slavery and slave hunters (Wright). Thus, it became a means of protection for the slaves as British subjects could not be brought back to the US. However, their dreams of freedom did not come easily. In the second half of the 19^th century, the Canadian government evicted Blacks from their lands and sold their land to white settlers (Kawano).

Members of the Peel Township church dispersed to Guelph, but they were not able to build a church of their own, due to the hardship of survival and the limited scale of community. It was not until 1869 that the Black community became large enough to start making arrangements and sought public donation for the purchase of land onto which they could erect a place of worship. Eventually, the BME church was built on 83 Essex Street at a cost of $2000, with a seating capacity of 300 in 1880. One noteworthy discovery from the archives is that the church was addressed as 79 instead of 83 Essex Street from 1916 to 1947 according to the textual account. It might indicate a temporary relocation of the church or a slight reorder of the street number. Unfortunately, no valid evidence from the existing account has been found to support our hypothesis, this interesting question might require further exploration.

Notable Members

The BME church on 83 Essex St. was not only a place of worship, but also a social hub that was served the people who attended the church and the community that arose in the surrounding neighbourhood. Some notable people were essential to the history of Canada and Black settlements in Canada. The people of the BME church were vital to the running and creation of the “underground railroad” that helped Black slaves escape to freedom (Montgomery). Although the people of this Church were important in the various ways that they formed and maintained a Black community in Guelph, some of the members’ contributions had such a significant impact on the community that it is important to remember them in talking about the history of the Church.

One of these people was Addie Aylestock, Canada’s first ordained Black woman minister, who fought to follow her calling by working hard and staying strong even when she was faced with the overwhelming number of men in the profession (Baglole). Another prominent character in the creation of the BME church was S. D. Smith; the community brought this pastor in when the church first opened, and he succeeded to fill the pews of the church and teach the people of this small community (“British Methodist Episcopal”). Although these two people are well written about, there’s something to be said about every person who helped to create the BME church into what history knows it as. This community helped support each other, helped support other people, and helped to support the ideas and dreams of Black men, women, and children in Guelph.

Black History Month at the BME Church

For the past 28 years, the BME church in Guelph has been hosting Black History month celebrations (Carter). Celebrating in Guelph’s BME church is important due to the integral role that the Black community has had in the city since they settled in the 1800s (Carter).  The celebrations include Caribbean and African food, singing, music–using  instruments brought by slaves long ago–, and motivational speeches for the hundreds of guests that attend the event. Plays also take place to teach audiences about Canada’s Black history and recall stories of the past that honour the bravery and courage of the Black settlers. Many of those who attend the celebrations have long ties to Guelph’s Black community and the BME Church, such as Ernie Crawford, who comes to Guelph from Brantford to remember and honour the memories they have growing up on Essex St and being part of the church’s community (Stead).

A Gathering of Community

Many gather for Black History Month: it is a homecoming for those connected to Guelph’s Black community who have spread to new areas over the years. The limestone walls of the BME Church are a sight of warmth against the bleak winter sky. The tall, lean door that is hugged between the tall, lean windows calls a welcoming and return for many. As people walk through the entrance, they inhale the breath of community and history that exhales from the body of the building. Faces familiar or new light up the room, and music and laughter ring. The smell of food brings the comfort of a home; people chatter with excitement for the entertainment that will come to life shortly. Musicians, a guest speaker, and a children’s recital embrace the values of culture, heritage, and history. The children’s recital is about a generation escaping the United States to Canada via the Underground Railroad, just as those who laid the stones of the BME’s foundation had. As people start to disperse back out to beyond the church walls, there is an understanding that the BME Church was more than just a building, it was and still remains a social and spiritual home for Black people in Guelph and beyond.