Bringing the comforts and reassurances of religion to the early settlers in this area was not easy. The missionaries of the mid 1800s reported riding 35 miles at a time through unbroken forests and inclement weather. On one trip the snow was so deep the missionary had to leave his cutter and go the rest of the way on horseback.
Not only were the travel conditions difficult but the people were also a trial and tribulation to these courageous travelling missionaries. One report in 1846 declared,
“For several years previous to this these people had not the means of grace among them, their time, especially their Sabbaths, were spent in visiting, cursing, swearing, dancing, fiddling, hunting and many of them chopping, and sinful practices of all kinds.”
This was the background of the Methodist Church in the Creemore area. The Methodists had several branches of their church and all were established in Creemore. These were the Wesleyan Methodists, the Methodist Episcopalians and the New Connexion Methodists. Each had a church. The New Connexion was at the side of the road up Collingwood Street north of the present county road. The Wesleyans had a small building on Caroline Street across from the present Creemore Echo office and the Episcopalians had their meeting place where we have our present United Church. The New Connexion united with Wesleyans in 1874. The Methodist and the Episcopalians united in 1883 to make a larger, stronger church.
The change did not come about instantly as there was considerable reorganization. A decision was made to sell the Wesleyan church and renovate the Episcopalian church on Mill Street. Considerable controversy then erupted. This eventually died down after the resigning of some members of the church board and plans were made to build a new church. This is the United Church that we know today although with some alterations.
The plans for the new church were carefully laid out. The church was to be 34 feet by 60 feet with a veneered brick wall; the frame was to be of timbers, 2 inches by 6 inches by 16 feet, lined inside and out. The roof was to be a square pitch and the ceiling also squared with small cornices or some finish in the corners.
The work proceeded as planned with one significant change. George Lawrence offered to finance a bell tower and spire and thanks to him it became one of the most distinguishing features of the village. It was 110 feet from the ground to the tip of the weather vane. Unfortunately it had to be dismantled in 1970 for safety reasons.
The corner stone was laid on May 24 by Warring Kennedy, Mayor of Toronto. On October 3 the new church was dedicated by Rev, E.B. Harper, D.D. The Doctor preached three very appropriate, interesting, instructive and impressive sermons. The weather was lovely, there were overwhelming congregations and good collections.
The next project was the building of the parsonage. Tenders were issued for the new building. The house was to be brick, neat and commodious. Plans were made for the minister to occupy it by January 1895.
The church was well cared for over the years. The firm of Plewes and Spence suggested that they install electric lights. They pointed out that the church could be lit for $40 a year. Considering the cost of coal oil and the money paid to a caretaker for cleaning and maintaining lamps this would be a savings.
A great many social activities were centred around the church. A Christmas Concert was one of the year’s main events. The Sunday school picnic was another popular event.
On January 1, 1901 the bell in the tower of this church rang out joyously for the first time proclaiming the advent of the 20th Century. And finally as this part of the story of the Methodist Church ends we must give thanks to the future oriented members of the church who planted the maple trees around the church. The trees were planted May 12, 1893. (to be continued)