Places of Worship Records Inventory Project
Elgin County
Malahide Township & Town of Aylmer
Published 2006
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Methodist Episcopal
Name of Church: Methodist Church (Burdick)
Location: Lot 95, Talbot Road E. (or Lot 22, Concession 6, beside Burdick cemetery, 50971 Talbot Line)
Date of Formation: 1820’s
Date of Closing: 1865
Records: Baptisms 1822 – 1854
Marriages 1833 – 1844
Burials 1820’s – (several lists of burials with no dates)
Minutes of Building Fund 1822
Subscription List 1822 – 1826
Minutes of Quarterly Conference 1823 – 1824
Caleb Burdick’s Family Register
Description: the above records are contained in a 72-page register kept by Rev. Caleb Burdick
Location: Original – United Church Archives, Toronto
Copy – Elgin OGS has transcribed and indexed the register
History: Rev. Caleb Burdick moved from Long Point in Norfolk County in 1819 to a 200 acre grant of land, lot 95, Talbot Road East, (or lot 22, concession 6), a short distance east of Summers Corners. In 1820 he was ordained a local deacon. In 1822 subscriptions were taken for donations for a church building, which was erected on a corner of Rev. Burdick’s land. A cemetery was also located beside the church, known as the Burdick cemetery, which Caleb Burdick deeded to the Trustees of the Burying Ground on Oct. 3, 1828. A new church was built at Summers Corners in 1865, and the old church beside the cemetery was torn down. Rev. Burdick died in 1858.
It is important to note that Rev. Burdick ministered to a larger area of Malahide than the immediate community around his church; therefore his register contains entries of people living in various parts of Malahide.
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Methodist (became United Church of Canada in 1925)
Name of Church: Malahide Circuit
Location: consisted of the following churches; the time period these congregations were affiliated with the Malahide Circuit are given following the name:
Copenhagen (1860’s – 1957)
Dunboyne (1850’s – active)
Fairview (1877 – 1915)
Grovesend (1878 – 1928)
Jaffa (1860’s – 1918?)
Luton (1868 – 1957)
Mount Salem (1868 – 1957)
Port Bruce (1891 – 1912)
Summers Corners (1964 – 1974)
Richmond (1964 – active)
The Malahide Circuit, now referred to as the Malahide Pastoral Charge, now consists of Malahide United Church at Dunboyne and Richmond United Church in Bayham Township.
A separate listing for each of the above churches/congregations will be given following the Malahide Circuit listing, to show each congregation’s individual history and any records relating specifically to that church.
With the exception of some minute books or specific records relating to each individual congregation, the records of the above churches, while they were affiliated with the Malahide Circuit, will be found in the registers listed below:
Records: Register of Rev. Caleb Burdick, 1822 – 1854 (see listing for Burdick Church)
– although not officially known as the Malahide Circuit in these early years, Rev. Burdick may have performed services in some of the above communities
Wesleyan Methodist Church/ Methodist Church of Canada Baptismal Registers, 1840 – 1874
– this was a central registry set up in 1840 for all of Ontario; consisting of four volumes now on microfilm at the United Church Archives, Toronto
– this registry is not a complete record of all baptisms occurring during the period noted, but several Malahide entries are found
– Elgin OGS has extracted, indexed and published Elgin county entries found in this register
Malahide Circuit Registers:
Baptisms (1882 – 1939); (1933 – 1943); (1948 – 1950); (1952 – present)
Marriages (1901 – 1944); (1936 – 1965); (1955 – 1979); (1979 – present)
Burials (1901 – 1920); (1923 – 1944); (1973 – 1979); (1979 – present)
Minutes (1946 – 1974)
Membership Records (1973 – present)
– until recently, the above registers are in original form and were kept at the United
Church Parsonage in Luton, R.R. #6, Aylmer, Ontario N5H 2R5. Since our original
questionnaire, the only records remaining in original format at the Parsonage are: Baptisms (1952 – present); Marriages (1979- present); Burials (1979- present); and Membership records (1973 – present).
Two reels of microfilm containing the following records which may
include some of the above are housed at the Aylmer Library:
Baptism, Marriage & Burial (1899-1943)
Marriages (Richmond & Corinth) (1955-1979)
Marriages (Malahide) (1936-1965)
Official Board records (Malahide) (1946-1976)
Annual Meetings (1944-1986)
U.C.W. records (1962-1988)
Board of Stewards records (1957-1971)
There is also a set of the microfilmed records in the Elgin County Library collection.
The United Church Archives in Toronto lists the following records for the Malahide Circuit in their holdings:
Baptisms (1899 – 1951); (1954 – 1957)
Marriages (1897 – 1916); (1901 – 1944); (1936 – 1965)
Burials (1901 – 1944); (1945 – 1972)
Membership Records (1867 – 1885); (1928 – 1969); (1957 – 1972)
Official Board Minutes (1884 – 1901); (1921 – 1974)
Board of Stewards Records (1921 – 1946)
Board of Trustees Correspondence (1963 – 1966)
Congregational Minutes (1944 – 1986)
Financial Records (1907 – 1949); (1959 – 1960); (1954 – 1959)
Youth Group Records (1897 – 1910); (1961)
Women’s Groups Records
(minutes 1962 – 1968);(membership/financial 1971 – 1988)
History: Capsule histories of the churches/congregations in the Malahide Circuit, which is part of the Elgin Presbytery, are contained in a publication, Church History, Elgin Presbytery, London Conference, prepared for Canada’s Centennial in 1967. Elgin OGS has a copy of this book in its collection.
A chapter on Rev. Caleb Burdick and Methodism in Canada is included in The Haggan Papers, Part 4c, by Ida Haggan, published by the Elgin County Library in 1979.
Ministers: The following list of ministers is taken from Pioneer Days at Copenhagen, by James L. McCallum, and from a list compiled by Shirley Liddle for Dunboyne United Church. These ministers served on the Malahide Circuit, in the churches affiliated with that circuit during the years indicated beside each church, given above.
Walter Brown 1867
G. H. Johnson 1877
Rev. R. A. Howie 1878
Rev. C. W. Vollick 1883-1885
Rev. J. H. Orme 1885-1887
Rev. J. E. Moore 1887-1889
Rev. John Veale 1889-1892
Rev. M. Griffin 1892-1893
Rev. W. M. Pomeroy 1893-1895
Rev. C. Chrichton 1895-1898
Rev. S. G. Staples 1898-1900
Rev. J. E. Millyard 1901-1903
Rev. A. M. McCulloch 1903-1904
Rev. J. J. Noble 1904-1906
Rev. I. A. McKelvey 1907-1910
Rev. A. E. Doan 1910-1914
Rev. C. R. Durrant 1914-1916
Rev. Walter Kitely 1916-1919
Rev. William Patterson 1919-1920
Rev. Edward A. Shaw 1921-1923
Rev. Fred Manning 1923-1925
Rev. Wesley J. Moores 1925-1926
Rev. Joseph W. Stewart 1926-1928
Rev. Theodore R. Turner 1928-1931
Rev. Harvey F. Kennedy 1931-1940
Mr. Aubrey Jones 1941-1942
Rev. Max O. Moore 1942-1943
Rev. F. T. Grafton 1943-1944
Rev. Dr. Knowles & Rev. M. G. Newton 1944-1945
Mr.. O. D. Cadotte 1945-1946
Rev. Campbell C. Strachan 1946- 1949
Mr. Alvin Cleland 1949-1953
Rev. H. D. McCormack 1953-1955
Mr. Daniel E. Manning 1955-1958
Mr. Murdock Morrison 1958-1962
Mr. H. Stanley Royle 1962-1966
Rev. Charles K. Forrest 1966-1971
Mr. Alfred Bowden 1971-1975
Rev. Robert W. Scott 1975-1979
Mr. Norman Hare 1979-1993
Rev. Frances Williams 1993-1998
Rev. Kelvin Toffelmire 1998-
Assistant and Supply Ministers, Local Preachers:
John H. Bennet 1867-
S. J. Kelly 1877-
Rev. J. H. Murray 1886
J. S. Jenkins 1887 (Jaffa)
J. G. Tate 1887
J. Snell 1889-
J. A. Jackson 1891
A. I. Brown 1895
Rev. E. W. Edwards 1896-
Mr. Steadman 1896
Rev. Mr. Reid 1898
Rev. C. Carscallan 1898
Rev. Clayton Moorehouse 1899
W. A. Godfrey 1899 (Grovesend)
George Wilson 1899 (Copenhagen)
Rev. W. Fansher 1900
C. W. Coulter 1902 (Luton)
Robert Hicks 1901 (Dunboyne)
J. H. Fowler 1903
B. Robinson 1904
W. G. Connelly 1905
W. James 1905
H. Hazelwood 1906
Mr. Laws 1907
W. E. Donnelly 1908
Stanley Lackland 1909
G. Phillips 1910
Mr. Morrison 1910
S. Hunt 1911
Percy N. Cavan 1912
Rev. W. G. Fagan 1913
Arthur Page 1914
Mervyn Wright 1915
Chester Wilkinson 1916
W. H. Moss 1918
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Methodist (became United Church of Canada in 1925)
Name of Church: Copenhagen
Location: Lot 10, Concession 2 (on west side of Imperial Road [Highway 73] just north of Nova Scotia Line) 
Date of Formation: 1860’s
Date of Closing: 1957
Affiliations: Malahide Circuit
Port Bruce Sunday School (1952 – 1957)
Records: see Malahide Circuit listing
The United Church Archives lists the following records, relating specifically to the Copenhagen church:
Board of Trustee Minutes (1898 – 1943)
Congregational Minutes (1943 – 1956)
Sunday School Attendance Records (1945 – 1960)
Financial Statements (1950 , 1951)
History: The Methodist Episcopal congregation had its beginnings in Copenhagen in the 1860’s when services were held above a general store, until 1870. A quarter acre of land in lot 10, concession 2 was deeded by Walter Livingston Brown to the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church on Aug. 26, 1871, and a frame church was built. In 1888 a brick church was built beside the frame church, which was later moved to Aylmer and can still be seen as a garage at 289 John St. S. The church was closed in 1957 and the congregation amalgamated with Dunboyne. The Sunday School at Copenhagen continued to be held in the school until 1964. In 1964 the church building and property were sold to Gordon Jones, and dismantled in 1979. Mr. Jones used some of the bricks from the church to build a new home, on the site of the church.
Further History: see Pioneer Days at Copenhagen, (James L. McCallum, 1981)
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Methodist (Wesleyan)
Name of Church: Copenhagen Wesleyan Methodist Church
Location: Lot 11, Concession 2 (Nova Scotia Line)
Date of Formation: 1881 [?]
Date of Closing: before 1889
Affiliations: Sparta
Malahide Circuit
Records: no known records
History: This church was located just east of the hotel corner (junction of Nova Scotia Line and Imperial Road) in Copenhagen on the north side of the road. On May 6, 1881, Henry Prowse deeded one-quarter acre, part of lot 11, concession 2, to the Trustees of the Copenhagen Methodist Church. It was originally connected with the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Sparta, but due to difficulty crossing the gully, it was later attached to the Malahide Circuit. It is remembered that many families in the Copenhagen community attended both this church and the Methodist Episcopal church. The Wesleyan Methodist congregation lasted only a short time, and the building was moved into Aylmer. The lot was sold in 1889.
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Methodist (became United Church of Canada in 1925)
Name of Church: Dunboyne (now known as Malahide United Church)
Location: Lot 11, Concession 4 (Calton Line) 
Date of Formation: 1910 (Dunboyne area Methodists had been meeting in a Union Church erected in 1856, and also located on Lot 11)
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations: Malahide Circuit
Records: see Malahide Circuit listing
History: Methodist services were held in a Union Meeting House, which had been erected in 1856 in the cemetery (see Union Church, Malahide listing for more information). The Methodist congregation left the Union Church after a disagreement about the installation of a baptismal font. A Methodist church was built in 1910, about a hundred yards west of the Union Church. By 1957, all the other United churches in the Malahide circuit had closed and Dunboyne stood alone until 1964 when Richmond and Summers Corners became part of the pastoral charge. Summers Corners church closed in 1974. The Malahide Pastoral Charge now consists of the church at Dunboyne and the one at Richmond in Bayham township.
Further History: article re building of church, Aylmer Express, Oct. 21, 1909
article re tenders for building, Aylmer Express, Jan. 20, 1910
laying of cornerstone, Aylmer Express, April 21, 1910
dedication of church, Aylmer Express, Sept. 8 and Sept. 15, 1910
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Methodist Episcopal (became United Church of Canada in 1925)
Name of Church: Fairview
Location: Lot 30, Concession 5 (northwest corner of Carter Road & John Wise Line) 
Date of Formation: 1877
Date of Closing: 1964
Affiliations: Malahide Circuit (1878 – 1915)
Richmond Circuit (1915 – 1964)
Records: see Malahide Circuit; and Richmond in Bayham Township volume
History: Joseph Millard deeded land at the southeast corner of his farm to the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church on December 31, 1877. However, the Elgin County Historical Atlas of 1877 shows a church building already in existence on this property, indicating the congregation may have been formed earlier. Additional property was deeded by Millard to the congregation on Nov. 4, 1885. The Fairview church was connected with the Malahide Circuit until 1915, when the Richmond Circuit was formed with Richmond, Summers Corners and Fairview churches. This church was closed in June 1964 and moved on July 9 to Richmond and attached to the Richmond United Church and dedicated as the Fairview Christian Education Centre for the Richmond Church.
Ministers: see Malahide Circuit listing from 1878-1915
Attached to Richmond Circuit 1915-1964
Students: M. C. Parr 1915
C. R. Gower 1917
T. C. Wilkinson 1918
J. P. Cooke 1919
L. C. Harvey 1920
C. H. Dickenson 1921
Hugh C. Wilson 1922
Clayton Searle 1924
Frank A. Gilbert 1925
Ministers:
A. D. Boa 1926
M. P. Smith 1929
R. E. Southcott 1931
C. W. Leslie, James Blair, G. W. Down 1934
Aubrey Edworthy (student) 1936
J. L. Foster 1940
H. E. Wright 1941
J. N. Gould 1947
A. M. Manson 1955
Dwight E. Hinton (lay) & F. Earl Norton (assistant) 1958
K. B. Passmore 1961
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Methodist (became United Church of Canada in 1925)
Name of Church: Grovesend
Location: Lot 23, Concession 2 (Nova Scotia Line) 
Date of Formation: 1816
Date of Closing: 1928
Affiliations: Aylmer Circuit (1840’s – 1878)
Malahide Circuit (1878 – 1928)
Records: see Aylmer (St. Paul’s) and Malahide Circuit listing
History: In 1816 settlers arrived at the Lake Erie shore in Malahide from Long Point, including the families of Lyons, Saxton, Griffin, Wrong and Backhouse. A church was started in 1818 by Gilbert Wrong and Nathan Lyons, meeting in Wrong’s house and the schoolhouse. Some accounts say a frame edifice was built. A deed dated Dec. 26, 1826 exists between Lewis Bowlby and the Church. Another deed dated Dec. 27, 1862 for part of lot 23, concession 2 exists between the Trustees of the Wesleyan Methodist Church and John Markle (owner of the former Bowlby land). The Christian Guardian, a Methodist newspaper, records in an 1861 issue that the “Wesleyan Methodist church recently erected at Grovesend was dedicated on the 17th of November”. Sometime between 1887 and 1889 a new church building was erected on the same site. The church was used until 1928, and in 1931 the property and building was sold, moved to an adjoining lot, and remodelled into a dwelling.
Further History: A four-page history of Grovesend Church is contained in an unpublished manuscript by Ida Haggan, titled Pioneer Families of Nova Scotia Street, found on Elgin County Library Microfilm Number 121
Ministers: see listing for St. Paul’s Aylmer, and Malahide Circuit.
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Methodist
Name of Church: Jaffa
Location: First church – South Half Lot 1, Concession 4 (where cemetery is) 
Second church – South Part Lot 1, Concession 5 (John Wise Line &
Springwater Road)
Date of Formation: 1861
Date of Closing: 1919
Affiliations: Malahide Circuit (1860’s – 1918)
Yarmouth Circuit (1918 – 1919)
Records: see Malahide Circuit listing
History: There was a Methodist Episcopal church south of the Jaffa corner (lot 1, concession 4) where there is still a small cemetery. The deed for this property is dated June 4, 1864 between Thomas Backhouse and the Trustees of the Church; Herman Mills, Ira Doolittle, and Samuel Thayer.. The church building was moved in 1875 to the northeast corner of Jaffa onto a one-half acre parcel in lot 1, concession 5, which was deeded to the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church “Townline Chapel”, by Albert & Ira White on Feb. 24, 1875. Jaffa was part of the Malahide circuit, until 1918 when the St. Thomas District Meeting Minutes show the congregation being supplied from Yarmouth Centre. The church was closed on September 9, 1919, and the property was sold in 1930, and the church remodelled into a house.
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Malahide (became United Church of Canada in 1925)
Name of Church: Luton (formerly called Centreville)
Location: North Half Lot 15, Concession 4 (John Wise Line) 
Date of Formation: 1825
Date of Closing: 1957 (still active as a union church)
Affiliations: Malahide Circuit
Records: see Malahide Circuit listing
The United Church Archives in Toronto lists the following records pertaining specifically to Luton church in their holdings:
Sunday School Minutes Statistical Record (1884 – 1894)
Luton United Church Marriage Register (1917 – 1936)
History: Services were first held in a log schoolhouse at Centreville (later Luton) which had been built around 1825. Property for a cemetery was deeded to the Trustees of the Centreville Burying Ground from Chester W. Fraser, on Jan. 31, 1853, being the north half of Lot 15, Concession 4. Another deed was drawn on March 4, 1856 between Fraser and the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church for 2 ½ acres. The first church, believed to have been built about 1853, was set in the cemetery property. In 1889 it was moved closer to the road, renovated and bricked. The date on the cornerstone is 1894. In 1957 the congregation amalgamated with Dunboyne, but Sunday School classes continued to be held in the Luton School which is now the community hall, until 1968. The parsonage for the Malahide Circuit has been at Luton since 1856, and continues to be the residence of the minister of the Malahide Pastoral Charge. The Luton Church is still standing and is now a Union Church under the auspices of the Cemetery Board. At present the building is being used by a congregation called “Fountain of Life Gospel Temple”.
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Methodist (became United Church of Canada in 1925)
Name of Church: Mount Salem
Location: South Half Lot 21, Concession 4 (John Wise Line & Springfield Road) 
Date of Formation: 1843
Date of Closing: 1957
Affiliations: Malahide Circuit
Records: see Malahide Circuit Listing
The United Church Archives in Toronto lists the following records pertaining specifically to Mount Salem church:
Adult Bible Class Attendance Record (1935 – 1940)
History: Prior to the establishment of a Post Office in 1868, Mount Salem was known as Hamburg or Louisville. The Methodist congregation met first in the school house which had been erected in 1843 on a lot given by Erastus Westover (part of lot 21, con 4). In 1862 a Union Church was built on a 1/4 acre lot, part of the south half of Lot 20, Concession 4 (west of the Mount Salem corner on the north side of the road).A deed for this lot bears the date March 28, 1868 from John Farthings to the Trustees of the Union Church: Joseph C. Baldwin, John Marshall, Thomas Hunt Sr., Emanuel Rockey, George Hilliker, William H. Smith and James J. Brown. A Board of Trustees from the community was formed, and the Union Church was used by different denominations. On October 10, 1886 a parcel of land in the south half of lot 21, concession 4 was deeded to the Trustees of the Methodist Church by Peter E. Hunt, and a church building was erected in 1887, north of the intersection at Mount Salem on the east side of the road. The Mount Salem congregation amalgamated with Dunboyne in 1957, and the church was purchased by the community for a hall, where Sunday School continued to be held until 1964. In 1978, the building was sold and torn down and replaced by a new home. An article in the Aylmer Express, Oct. 21, 1915 records that “the site of the old Union Church was purchased by Lloyd Graves, and the shed was sold in three sections to three parties. Mr. E. V. Learn has purchased the old Union Church and intends remodelling it into a barn”.
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Methodist
Name of Church: Port Bruce
Location: Lot 5, Concession 1 (or Lot 15 & 16, west side of Rolph Street) 
Date of Formation: 1840’s
Date of Closing: 1912
Affiliations: Aylmer Circuit (1840’s – 1891)
Malahide Circuit (1891 – 1912)
Records: See Aylmer (St. Paul’s) and Malahide Circuit listing
History: Port Bruce is listed as part of the Aylmer Circuit in the 1840’s. A deed dated Jan. 13, 1863 between William H. Davis and the Trustees of the Wesleyan Methodist Church exists for two-fifths of an acre in Lots 15 & 16, West side of Rolph Street, Port Bruce (part of lot 5, concession 1). It is presumed a church building was erected at this time. It was located a little to the south on the opposite side of the road across from the current Sunday School/ Community Hall building. Port Bruce is listed on the Malahide Circuit in 1891. In 1912 the church and property at Port Bruce was sold and the building was torn down.
Port Bruce Sunday School – Following his retirement in 1947, Port Bruce resident Robert Maguire began to raise funds to build a Sunday School. In 1953 a building was erected on the east side of Rolph Street almost across from where the old Methodist church had been located. The land was purchased from Frank Davidson and one lot next to it for parking. The Port Bruce Sunday School became part of the Copenhagen congregation, and Mrs. Maguire was the Superintendent.
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Methodist (became United Church of Canada in 1925)
Name of Church: Summers Corners
Location: Lot 21, Concession 6 (Talbot Line & Springfield Road)
Date of Formation: 1865
Date of Closing: 1974
Affiliations: Springfield, Dexter, Summers Corners Circuit (1840’s – 1879)
Aylmer (1879 – 1915)
Richmond & Fairview (1915 – 1964)
Malahide Circuit (1964 – 1974)
Records: see listings for above churches/circuits. The United Church Archives in Toronto lists the following records pertaining specifically to Summers Corners church:
Minutes of Congregational Meetings (1935 – 1979)
Trustee’s Treasurer’s Books (1919 – 1967)
Treasurer’s Books (1928 – 1979) (Richmond & Fairview included from 1928-1963)
Women’s Auxiliary & United Church Women Minutes (1948 – 1975); and Treasurer’s Books (1942 – 1973)
Adult Class Minutes (1922)
Sunday School Treasurer’s Book (1917 – 1976)
Sunday School Roll Book (1970 – 1973)
Sunday School Record Book (1968 – 1970)
Trustee Board Correspondence (1965)
History: In 1865, part of lot 21, Talbot Road East (Con. 6), was given to the Methodist Episcopal Church by Alex Summers. They were joined by the congregation from the Burdick Methodist church, and a building was erected on this site. Summers Corners formed a circuit with Springfield and Dexter. In 1879, Summers Corners came under the supervision of St. Paul’s Church in Aylmer, until 1915 when a circuit was formed with Richmond and Fairview. In 1964 Summers Corners became part of the Malahide Circuit until closing in 1974. The Sunday School and United Church Women’s group continued until the church was torn down in 1979.
Further history: article in Aylmer Express, June 26, 1974 on final service in church
Ministers:
Rev. Davis 1800’s
Rev. Chricton 1800’s
Rev. Wood 1800’s
with Aylmer: Rev. J. R. Gundy 1885-1888
Dr. Pascoe 1888-1891
Rev. Thomas Cullen 1891-1893
Rev. J. R. Treleaven 1893-1896
Rev. James Livingston 1896-1898
Rev. C. J. Scott 1898-1901
Rev. G. W. McAlister 1901-1905
Rev. Jospeh Philip 1905-1909
Rev. A. W. Tonge 1909-1913
Rev. A.E.M. Thompson 1913-1917
students:
M. C. Parr 1915-1917
C. K. Gower 1917-1918
T. C. Wilkinson 1918-1919
J. P. Cooke 1919-1920
L. C. Harvey 1920-1921
C. K. Dickenson 1921-1922
Hugh Wilson 1922-1924
Clayton Searle 1924-1925
Frank Gilbert 1925-1926
with Richmond: Rev. A. D. Boa 1926-1928
Rev. M. P. Smith 1929-1930
Rev. R. E. Southcott 1931-1933
Rev. C. W. Leslie, Rev. James. L. Blair, Rev. G. W. Down 1934-1936
Rev. C. C. Strachan, Rev. G. W. Down, Rev. George A. Barnard, Rev. R. Smith Baker, and Aubrey Edworthy (student) 1936-1939
Rev. J. L. Foster 1940
Rev. H. E. Wright 1941-1947, with Gordon Picknell, Robert Thompson and Donald Handford (probationers)
Rev. J. N. Gould and Rev. C. C. Strachan 1947-1955
Rev. A. M. Manson 1955-1958
Dwight L. Hinton, F. Earl Norton (assistant) 1958-1961
Rev. K. B. Passmore, F. Earl Norton (assistant) 1961-1964
with Malahide H. S. Royle 1964-1966
Rev. C. K. Forrest 1966-1971
Alfred Bowden 1971-1974
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Methodist
Name of Church: Kingsmill
Location: Malahide-Yarmouth townline (school at the intersection of Springwater Road and the College Line)
Date of Formation: not known
Date of Closing: 1913
Affiliations: Lyons Circuit (to 1905)
Sparta Circuit (1905-1907)
Orwell Circuit (1907-1913)
Records: see listings for above churches: Lyons in South Dorchester Volume; Sparta and Orwell in Yarmouth Volume
History: The Methodist congregation at Kingsmill did not have their own church building, but worshipped in the school. In 1860, a red brick school was built north of the village of Kingsmill, which is situated on the Malahide-Yarmouth townline. The school, which became known as the Goldsmith Seminary School, also served as a place of worship and a Sunday School. It was replaced by a new brick school in 1913 on the same site and is now a residence. The Methodist congregation worshipping there disbanded in 1913.
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Union (predominately Baptist from 1911 to 1916)
Name of Church: Dunboyne Union Church (also known as Seminary Church)
Location: Lot 11, Concession 4 (Calton Line) [in middle section of present Dunboyne Cemetery] 
Date of Formation: 1855
Date of Closing: 1916
Records: Minutes (June 1856 – Oct. 15, 1911) donated to Aylmer Museum, 14 East Street, Aylmer, Ontario, N5H 1W2
Minutes (1910 – 1916) donated to Canadian Baptist Archives, Hamilton
See Malahide Circuit listing for Methodist records
History: Several denominations began holding meetings in the Seminary School (later S. S. #5 Malahide) at Dunboyne (then called Seminary Corners), dating back to the 1820’s. This school was located across from the Dunboyne Cemetery. Groups meeting there included Methodist Episcopal, Methodist New Connection, Freewill Baptist, Presbyterian, Particular Baptist, Canada Methodist, Disciple, Anglican and Friends (Quaker). In 1856 it was decided to erect a Union Meeting House in the southwest corner of the cemetery to be open to use by all Orthodox denominations. A committee from each of five denominations was formed to hold a lease for the building of the church, as follows: Henry Disher (Methodist Episcopal); Isaac H. Webb (Methodist New Connection); John Sanders (Freewill Baptist); Archibald McTaggart (Presbyterian); and John Ellsworth (Particular Baptist). The church was built by Joseph Tufford and dedicated on Feb. 23, 1857. In 1909 a building committee was appointed to repair the church which resulted in putting in a cement wall, basement, and cement block veneer on the walls. A dedication service of re-opening was held January 15, 1911. In 1910, the Methodists erected their own church building about 100 yards to the west, and in June 1911 the Union church was officially recognized as a Baptist church, although the pastor, A. C. Bingham, stated that the Baptists did not own the church, it still being a Union building. The congregation dwindled and last services were held in 1916. The building continued to be used for Young Peoples’ meetings and school Christmas concerts. There is a reference in the Aylmer Express, Nov. 30, 1933 that Dunboyne Union Church was to be re-opened by Garnet Chambers of Aylmer. However, the building was eventually sold upon advice of a lawyer consulted by John Liddle Sr., the last living trustee. An auction sale of the building was held in October 1946. The proceeds of the sale went to the cemetery board. The church was torn down in the 1940’s. The outlines of the foundation in the grass in the Dunboyne cemetery can still be seen if standing inside the farthest east gate facing north.
Further references: articles in Aylmer Express, March 11, 1909 and Oct. 14, 1909 regarding re-building of Union Church
articles in Aylmer Express, June 23, 1910 and July 7, 1910; laying of cornerstones
articles in Aylmer Express, Jan. 5, 1911 and Jan. 19, 1911; re-opening and dedication of church
articles in Aylmer Express, June 9, 1911 and June 28, 1911; now a Baptist congregation
article in Aylmer Express, October 3, 1946 regarding auction of church
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Name of Church: St. Birgitta
Location: Port Bruce, northeast corner of Rolph and Walnut streets
Date of Formation: 1921
Date of Closing: 1941
Affiliations: served by priests from Holy Angels Church, St. Thomas
Records: There are no records relating specifically to the mission at Port Bruce. Records at Holy Angels, St. Thomas, and Our Lady Of Sorrows, Aylmer, churches should be consulted .
The mission at Port Bruce is mentioned in a 1921 history of Holy Angels Parish, St. Thomas, written by Msgr. West, and available at the Diocese of London archives.
The Port Bruce Church is also recorded in a History of the Catholic Church in Aylmer and Vicinity – Year Book Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the First Mass in Aylmer
History: The first Mass at Port Bruce was said on the feast day of St. Birgitta, Oct. 8, 1921 at the home of Abraham McGuigan. The Aylmer Express issue of Dec. 11, 1924 states that a Catholic Church is to be built in Port Bruce, and the July 23, 1925 issue records its opening. The congregation was never large, consisting of a few local residents and summer vacationers. Parishioners from St. Thomas often came to Port Bruce in order to hold Mass there. By 1941 services had dwindled and the small chapel was moved to Port Burwell that spring and was used there until 1947 (see listing for St. Joseph’s Church, Port Burwell – Bayham Township)
***
Township: Malahide (Aylmer)
Denomination: Presbyterian
Name of Church: Knox Presbyterian, Aylmer
Location: 211 John Street North, Aylmer 
Date of Formation: 1888
Date of Closing: 1923
Affiliations: Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Springfield (1889 – 1923)
Records: Session Minutes (1888 – 1923)
Minutes of the Board of Managers (1887 – 1921; 1922 – 1924)
The above records are housed at the United Church Archives, Toronto
See also listing for Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Springfield and St. John’s (Methodist) United Church, Springfield in Springfield/ South Dorchester volume.
History: Andrew Murray donated 1/5 acre of land in Aylmer in a deed dated July 25, 1888 to build a Presbyterian church, located across from the present Anglican Church. Construction of the church began in 1888, and Rev. J. B. McLaren became the first regular minister for Aylmer and Chalmers Church, Springfield in 1889. The church in Aylmer was closed in 1923 and the congregation joined with St. Paul’s Methodist (later United) Church. The property and building were sold in 1931 to the Royal Canadian Legion. A plaque with the names and photographs of the ministers of Knox, Aylmer from 1891 to 1923 is hanging in St. Paul’s United Church, Aylmer.
Articles in the Aylmer Express, May 15, 1913 and May 22, 1913 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Knox Church give a history of the congregation.
Ministers: Rev. Dr. Thompson 1891-1894
Rev. J. W. Anderson 1895-1898
Rev. N. M. Bethune 1898-1901
Rev. J. W. Rae 1901-1906
Rev. J. C. McConache 1907-1909
Rev. J. M. McGillivray 1910-1914
Rev. W. A. Beecroft 1914-1916
Rev. L. A. Muttitt 1916-1919
Rev. T. J. Jewett 1921-1923
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Methodist (became United Church of Canada in 1925)
Name of Church: Trinity Church
Location: Lot 26, Gore Between Concession 7 & 8 (Glencolin Line)
Date of Formation: circa 1850
Date of Closing: 1964 (still active as an Old Colony Mennonite church)
Affiliations: Springfield Circuit (St. John’s) 1879 (and probably before) to 1964
Records: see listing for Malahide Circuit for earliest records of Methodists in Malahide Township, contained in Rev. Caleb Burdick’s Register (1822 – 1854) and the Wesleyan Methodist/ Methodist Church of Canada Baptismal Register (1840 – 1874)
see listing for St. John’s (Methodist) United Church, Springfield in Springfield & South Dorchester Volume
History: A deed dated Oct. 16, 1865 was registered between John & Lydia Bowen and the Trustees of the Canadian Wesleyan New Connection Chapel, Malahide, for ½ acre in the north east part of lot 26, in the Gore between con.7 and 8, for the site of a chapel and burying ground. The original church was frame and was destroyed by fire circa 1900. The 1877 Elgin Co. Historical Atlas shows a church building on this lot, which is on the south side of what is now Glencolin Line. The cemetery is shown across the road. The present brick structure was erected due to the efforts of the forty or more families supporting the church. The cornerstone was laid on Sept. 24, 1900 and the first service was held Jan. 1, 1901. At this time the church was part of the Springfield circuit (with St. John’s Methodist) and probably was affiliated with that congregation prior to this date. In 1947 on the occasion of the anniversary service, Rev. J. T. White wrote an article in the Aylmer Express, April 27, 1947, which briefly gave the history of the church and listed the forty families with a brief account of each. The church was closed in 1964. The building and one-half acre property were sold on April 2, 1964 to the Old Colony Mennonite congregation.
Further History: article in St. Thomas Times-Journal, June 5, 1961, pg. 6 on occasion of 60th anniversary of building of church; gives history
Article in Aylmer Express, Sept. 13, 1928; 64th anniversary of Trinity church; gives history
Ministers: Rev. Hovey (first minister)
Rev. J. N. Elliott 1879-
Rev. W. D. Hughson
Rev. J. T. Davis
Rev. Albert Kennedy
Rev. W. G. Brown
Rev. T. R. McNair
Rev. R. E. P. Hamilton
Rev. George Thompson
Rev. W. Fansher
Rev. R. C. Parsons
Rev. A. G. Going
Rev. John Veale 1900-
Rev. John Morrison
Rev. J. F. Edwards
Rev. W. H. Butt
Rev. George Andrews
Rev. E. W. Edwards
Rev. J. F. Reycraft
Rev. George Jewett
Dr. Barnly
Rev. Waldemar Williams
Rev. C. DeWitt Cousens
Rev. A. M. Grant
Rev. George Morley
Rev. Harry Royle
Rev. Ross Hare
Rev. J. T. White
Rev. H. J. Vickerson
Rev. R. C. Copeland
Rev. M. G. Cook
Rev. George Shields
Rev. G. G. Heffelfinger 1961-
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Anglican (Church of England)
Name of Church: St. James
Location: Lot 14, Concession 9 (College Line)
Date of Formation: 1831
Date of Closing: 1866
Affiliations: joined with Trinity Anglican Church, Aylmer
Records: some references to Malahide families are found in the records of St. Thomas Anglican Church, and are posted on this website.
History: St. James Church was organized largely due to the efforts of Humphrey Johnston, an Irish immigrant, who donated one acre in the southeast corner of his farm, Lot 14, Concession 9. He and his sons began building a church built of pine in 1831. When the Lord Bishop of Toronto visited the parish in 1845, the church was not quite finished. In his report, the Bishop states that “there were 21 persons confirmed, chiefly persons of advanced age”. The one-acre property was formally deeded from Humphrey Johnston to the Rev. George Petrie on July 12, 1841; and a further four acres, the northeast corner of lot 13 from Reuben Johnston to Rev. Petrie. On July 14, 1841, Rev. Petrie made a trust of this property to Synod Diocese of Huron to be used for a church, parsonage and burying ground. The trust was released in 1883. Another record of visiting church officials is in 1848 when Alexander N. Bethune, Archdeacon of York made a report. He reports that “services are performed once a fortnight by Mr. Ker the Catechist; but the place is only occasionally visited by a Missionary – Mr. Stewart of Dunwich attending at such intervals as his other duties will allow”. There was never a minister appointed to the St. James church. A cemetery was established on the church property, but no records exist of who was interred there. It is assumed that the cemetery was intact and active until 1883 when the property was disposed of. It is known that some of the stones were moved to the Aylmer cemetery.
Further history: articles in the Aylmer Express, June 5, June 12, and June 19, 1930 on anniversary of establishment of Anglican church in district
***
Township: Malahide / Aylmer
Denomination: Anglican (Church of England)
Name of Church: Trinity Anglican
Location: 170 John Street North, Aylmer 
Date of Formation: 1860
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations: St. James Anglican Church, Malahide
Records: Baptisms (Oct. 1873 – present)
Marriages (Sept. 1873 – present)
Burials (Oct. 1873 – present ; gaps exist between April 1881 – May 1889)
Confirmations (Feb. 1874 – present)
The above records are in original format and are available for viewing by the public, under supervision, at the Church Office, 170 John St. N., Aylmer, N5H 2A9. (519) 773-8031. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
History: Early in the year 1860 a congregation was organized in Aylmer and met in the town hall. In 1861, Philip Hodgkinson donated the southeast corner (Water & Queen Streets) of his farm. There was also a cemetery on the property. In 1885 the congregation purchased the former Methodist Episcopal church which had been built in 1879 and which had been vacant for two or three years following an amalgamation of the Methodist churches. This building is still in use by Trinity Anglican church. The church on Water Street was sold to the Disciple congregation, but was destroyed by fire a few years later. Some of the gravestones were moved to Aylmer cemetery, although three or four remain on the site. A parish hall was added to the present church in 1954 and in 1960 the basement was renovated.
Further history: articles in the Aylmer Express, June 5, June 12, and June 19, 1930 on anniversary of establishment of Anglican church in district
Souvenir History of Trinity Anglican Church, Aylmer (1861 – 1961) (Elgin OGS has a copy)
The Aylmer Express, 5 Dec 1907 has photo of Trinity Church, Aylmer
Ministers: Rev. F. C. Disbarne 1860-1861
Rev. F. W. Grant 1861-1862
Rev. A Montgomery 1862-1864
vacant 1864-1865
Rev. F. Harding 1866-1870
Rev. D. A. Duane 1871-1873
Rev. G. Turnbull 1873-1874
Rev. T. R. Davis 1875-1879
Rev. S. R. Ashbury 1879-1880
Rev. W. C. Daunt 1881-1889
Rev. F. M. Baldwin 1889-1894
Rev. J. W. Andrew 1894-1902
Rev. A. B. Farney 1902-1908
Rev. Canon C. Miles 1908-1930
Rev. F. G. Hardy 1930-1934
Rev. P. H. J. Streeter 1934-1942
Rev. G. K. Nobes 1942-1944
Rev. E. E. West 1944-1946
Rev. F. C. McRitchie 1946-1952
Rev. T. Dale Jones 1952-1958
Rev. R. Matthewman 1958-1959
Rev. Canon R. A. C. Mills 1969-1991
Rev. Pat Nunn 1991
Rev. Ron Walker 1991-1996
Rev. Michael Wellwood 1997-
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Baptist
Name of Church: Jaffa Baptist Church
Location: Lot 1, Concession 4 (John Wise Line & Springwater Road) 
Date of Formation: 1886
Date of Closing: 1981 (closed a short while in early 1950’s)
Affiliations: Aylmer Baptist Church
Also served by ministers from New Sarum Baptist church
Records: see listing for Aylmer Baptist Church (in this volume)
see listing for New Sarum Baptist Church (in Yarmouth volume)
Membership List (1886 – 1948) in possession of Mrs. Mervin Howe, R.R. #5 Aylmer, Ontario, N5H 2R4 (Elgin OGS has a photocopy)
Minutes (1886 – 1918; includes membership list) located at Canadian Baptist Archives, Hamilton
History: In 1886 a group of 21 Baptists residing in the Jaffa area organized as a congregation at a meeting on May 21 at the home of Orlando Treadwell. Mr. Treadwell had just bought a former Methodist church at Dexter to use to remodel his home. He instead offered it to the Baptists to use as a church if they held a bee to move it to its new location. On May 21, 1886, land was leased by the Trustees of the Regular Baptist Church in Jaffa from William & Mary Miles and the church was moved to a lot in the north half of lot 1, concession 4 (south side of John Wise Line). The church was dedicated on Sept. 6, 1886. In 1910 the church was remodelled and a basement put under it. The cornerstone was laid on July 11, 1911. The 90th anniversary was observed on Oct. 3, 1976, at which time a history was written (Elgin OGS has a copy)
Ministers: Rev. Abram Smith 1886-1887
Rev. Baker 1888-1890
Rev. John Trickey 1891-circa 1893
Rev. G. W. Ray circa 1894-circa 1906
Rev. W. S. Buckborough 1908-1915
Rev. Dunlop 1916-1917
Rev. W. B. Walker 1917-1919
Rev. L. D. Huxtable 1919-1926
Rev. E. J. McEwin 1926-1932
Rev. J. A. Brown (supply 1932)
Rev. W. E. James 1932-1941
Rev. Price (supply 1941)
Rev. Taylor 1942-1944
Rev. Phinney 1945-
Rev. Joseph Janes -1950
Miss Thirza Lewitt (supply 1950-1958)
Mr. Harold Ashton 1958-1976 +
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Baptist
Name of Church: Malahide-Bayham Baptist Church ( also known as Talbot St. Baptist)
Location: Lot 30, Concession 6 (Talbot Line & Carter Road)
(Also known as Lot 103, North Talbot Road East)
Date of Formation: 1815
Date of Closing: 1963
Affiliations: None known.
Records: The Canadian Baptist Archives lists the following records in their holdings:
Minute Book (1855-1897; 1898-1934; 1935-1958; 1959-1964)
Church Treasurer Book (1923-1964)
Membership Roll (1855-1964)
Women’s Mission Circle Minute Books (1886-1963)
Sunday School Attendance Records (1944-1965)
Church Clerk Correspondence (1901-1930)
Reports to Association (1905-1936)
The Minute Books (1855-1897) have been microfilmed by the LDS and are
found on Microfilm Number 0897916, item 4.
History: This congregation was organized in 1815 and first held meetings in Samuel Baker’s barn, in connection with the Aylmer Baptist congregation. Later, services were held in the Carter School. In 1855, thirty-five Baptists in this community applied to the Aylmer Church for letters of dismissal to organize a regular church of their own. Meetings continued to be held in the Carter school until 1861 when a church was built. It was dedicated on January 18, 1862. A one-half acre lot, the southeast corner of lot 103, North Talbot Road East, was leased by the Trustees of the Regular Baptist church from Samuel, Lydia, Simeon & Elizabeth Jane Baker, bearing the date April 17, 1860. It was closed in 1963 and the building was dismantled and moved to Tillsonburg.
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Baptist
Name of Church: Malahide Jubilee
(later called Lakeshore Calvary Church; and finally Lakeview Baptist)
Location: Lot 32, Concession 1 (52975 Nova Scotia Line)
Date of Formation: 1842
Date of Closing: before 1980
Affiliations: None known.
Records: The Canadian Baptist Archives lists the following records in their holdings for Malahide Jubilee Church:
Minute Book (1842-1892)
Membership List (1842-1894; 1911-1940)
These records have also been microfilmed by the LDS and are found on Microfilm number 0804329, item 6-7.
History: At a meeting on August 20, 1842, it was decided to form a new congregation because of the great number of new members at the Bayham (Port Burwell) Baptist Church. There were 78 members, and meetings were held in a schoolhouse about a mile from where the church was built in 1849, on lot 32, concession 1. A split in the congregation occurred due to differences, and in 1870 the Berean Baptist church was formed, it followers erecting a church on lot 30, Concession 3. In 1894, the Berean congregation was persuaded to join once again with Jubilee, and the name of the church was changed to Lakeshore Calvary Baptist. In 1909 it was decided to built a new church at Lakeview, and the former Jubilee church was moved across the road in 1910 and used until the new church was built. At this time, the name of the church was changed from Lakeshore Calvary to Lakeview Baptist Church. The cornerstone was laid on June 2, 1910, and dedicated on December 18, 1910. A cemetery is also located on the church property. The church was torn down in 1980.
Further history: “1842-1942 Centenary Anniversary – Lakeview Baptist Church”
(Elgin OGS has a copy)
Ministers: Rev. Mills
Rev. Baker
Rev. Bray
Rev. Delap
The above served between 1842 and 1849
Rev. Shook McConnell 1849-1876
Rev. Thomas Sinclair 1882-1888
Rev. James Grant 1888-1890
Rev. T. C. Sowter 1890-1891
Rev. W. P. Nelson 1891
Rev. John G. C. Irvine 1892
Rev. P. R. Carey 1894-1900
Rev. J. Harry King 1900-1902
Rev. E. J. Stobo 1903-1905
Rev. C. E. McLeod 1905-1909
Rev. Albert Hughes 1910
Rev. L. H. Vail 1910-1915
Rev. Andrew Smith 1915-1918
Rev. John Marshall 1919-1922
Rev. A. A. Fanjoy 1922-1926
Rev. A. J. Schultz 1926-1932
Rev. George Simmons 1933-1936
Rev. Ernest Butcher 1936-
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Baptist
Name of Church: Berean
Location: Lot 30, Concession 3
Date of Formation: 1870
Date of Closing: 1894
Affiliations: None Known.
Records: The Canadian Baptist Archives lists the following records in their holdings:
Minute Book (1870-1894)
These records are also available on LDS microfilm number 0804329, item 5
The majority of the content of this minute book has been published in The Haggan Papers, part 4c, by the Elgin County Library.
History: This Regular Baptist congregation was formed in 1870, when differences occurred within the Malahide Jubilee church. On October 24, 1870, the Trustees purchased a site for a church at the southeast corner of Lot 30, Concession 3 from John Bagnall. A church was built and opened for services on January 22, 1871. In 1894, the Berean congregation were persuaded to reunite with the Jubilee church. The building was moved to Aylmer to become the Church of Christ Disciples church. There is a Berean Cemetery located on Lot 21, Concession 2
Further history: The Haggan Papers, part 4c, published by the Elgin County Library
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Baptist
Name of Church: Roger’s Corners
Location: Lot 79, North Side Talbot Road (Corner of Talbot Line & Rogers Rd.)
Date of Formation: 1816
Date of Closing: 1843
Affiliations: congregation became Aylmer Baptist Church
Records: no known records
History: This congregation was established in 1816 by Reuben Crandell. Services were held at Rogers Corners until 1843 when a chapel was built in Aylmer. A deed for one acre dated June 27, 1825 exists between Isaac Ostrander and the Trustees of the Baptist Denomination, for lot 79, North Side Talbot Road. There is also a cemetery located on this property. It is not known if there was a church erected on this site.
***
Township: Malahide / Aylmer
Denomination: Baptist
Name of Church: Aylmer Baptist
Location: 153 John Street South, Aylmer (corner of John & Pine streets) 
Date of Formation: 1843
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations: Rogers Corners (1816 – 1843)
Lakeview: Jubilee Baptist (1842 – 1894)
Berean Regular Baptist (1870 – 1894)
Calvary Baptist (Lakeshore) (1894 – 1910)
Lakeview Baptist (merger of Jubilee & Berean) (1910 – 1976)
Calton (1855 – present)
Malahide – Bayham Baptist Church (1855 – 1961)
Jaffa Baptist Church (1886 – 1981)
Mount Salem Union Church (1887)
Dunboyne Baptist Church (1906 – 1916)
Records: The following records are found in original format, at the Aylmer Baptist Church. The records are available to the public on request, by appointment, for legitimate research, including genealogy, at a charge of $15 per hour. A member of the church archives committee must be present for the entire appointment. The church is willing to conduct searches for baptisms, marriages and deaths for a fee of $15 per hour. Many of the records listed below have been microfilmed by the Elgin County Library (see below):
Baptisms (1866 – present)
Marriages (1944 – 1984)
Burials (1866 – 1940’s)
Minutes (1848 – 1992)
Membership Lists (1916; 1981; 1983; 1986; 1992; 1993)
100th Anniversary Guest Book and Membership List (1916)
Annual Report and List of Donors (1885)
Mission Circle Records (1878 and 1926 – 1935)
Ladies Aid Records (1935 – 1965)
Women’s Foreign Mission Circle Records (1876 – 1888)
The following records are on LDS Microfilm number 0804328, item 1-2, for the Regular Baptist Church of Malahide & Aylmer:
Minutes (1848-1888)
Membership list (1866-1925)
The Elgin County Library also has church records from circa 1848-1983 on Microfilm numbers 1517 and 1518.
History: The congregation of Aylmer Baptist church actually had its beginnings in 1816 when a church was established at Rogers Corners (Rogers Road & Talbot Line) in 1816 by Reuben Crandell. Services were held there until 1843 when the first chapel was built in Aylmer. A deed, dated Jan. 20, 1855 between James Adams and the Trustees of the Regular Baptist church for 4/5 acre, lot 84, south side of Talbot Road. Lot 84 is on the east side of what is now John Street in Aylmer. The present church at 153 John Street South (corner of Pine Street) was built in 1871. A fire gutted the church on July 12, 1950, was renovated and re-opened in 1963.
Further history: article in Aylmer Express, Oct. 2, 1941; church to celebrate 125th anniversary; gives history
***
Township: Malahide / Aylmer
Denomination: Church of Christ Disciples
Name of Church: Aylmer Church of Christ, Disciples
name changed to Aylmer Christian Church in 1998
Location: 62 Pine Street, Aylmer (corner of Pine & Wellington Streets) 
Date of Formation: 1885
Date of Closing:
Affiliations: Mapleton Church of Christ Disciples, South Dorchester (1850 – present)
Winger Church, Malahide (1840 – 1894)
Records: Baptisms (1895 – )
Marriages (1895 – )
Minutes (1895 – )
Contact Archivist James McCallum (address in Introduction)
History: A congregation of Disciples began meeting in the home of Thomas Bradt in Malahide township in 1840 and became known as Winger Church. This group transferred to the Aylmer church in 1894. The Aylmer congregation owes it beginnings to the Church of Christ at Mapleton where Edmund Sheppard, a pioneer school teacher and preacher, established a church in 1850. By 1885, a number of members had moved into Aylmer and with the help of preacher William D. Campbell, held evangelistic meetings in Aylmer. Some of the families in Aylmer at this time included Sherk, Inglis, Bradt, Luton, Reavie, Dunn, Hepburn, Hodges and Turner. The Disciple congregation was organized in Aylmer in 1885 and met for a year in Aylmer’s first town hall before renting the old Anglican church at the corner of Water & Queen Streets, which they purchased on Aug. 5, 1889 from Samuel S. Clutton. This building was destroyed by fire on Jan. 27, 1895. The congregation then purchased the Berean Baptist church on Concession 3 on March 25, 1895 and built the present church from it in Aylmer. The lot on Pine Street was purchased from James E. McDonald (deed dated July 31, 1895), by the Trustees – John Campbell, John Hodges & Archibald Reavily. It opened for worship on July 14, 1895. Extensive renovations were carried out in 1953, including raising the building on a new concrete foundation and constructing a basement. A front vestibule was also added to the church.
Further history: – article in Aylmer Express, Aug. 6, 1942; 57th anniversary of church
– Church of Christ, Aylmer, Ontario 1885-1975 (Elgin OGS has a copy)
Ministers: William D. Campbell circa 1885-1891
John D. Stephens 1891-1892
J. R. Black 1893-1895
Randall W. Ballah 1895-1898
E. Harlow 1898-1900
H. E. Stafford 1900-1901
Randall W. Ballah 1901-1907
W. N. Arnold 1907-1909
J. L. Wheeler 1909-1910
D. McCall 1911-1912
H. G. Kellog 1912-1913
William G. Charlton 1914-1919
Harry K. Franks 1920-1922
George W. Garrod 1922-1932
Dr. T. L. Fowler 1932-1933
James D. Kelly 1933-1935
Fred E. Dunn 1935-1936
John J. Hill 1936-1938
E. V. Allen 1938-1939
Howard L. Richardson 1939-1942
Francis R. James 1943-1944
William O. Rees 1944-1945
G. W. Garrod 1946-1947
William Kennedy 1947-1951
George White 1951-1952
Mr. Finch 1952
Richard B. Harris 1952-1954
Arthur Harris 1954-1957
William Bilson 1957-1961
Howard Hanson 1961-1962
Robert Wade 1962-1965
Benjamin Woodruff 1965-1969
Ronald K. Mellish 1970
Ralph J. Norman 1971-1974
Donald W. Stevenson 1974-1978
Robert Wade 1978
William Bilson 1978-1979
Paul Walden 1979-1982
Thomas Aylott 1983-1984
Duane Smith 1985-1986
Stephen Peltz 1987-1991
Kenneth Turnbull 1991-
***
Township: Malahide / Aylmer
Denomination: Methodist (became United Church of Canada in 1925)
Name of Church: St. Paul’s United Church, Aylmer
Location: Talbot Street East, Aylmer (office 5 Queen Street North) 
Date of Formation: 1845
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations: Episcopal Methodist Church, John St. N., Aylmer (merged 1884)
Knox Presbyterian Church, Aylmer (merged 1923)
Orwell United Church (amalgamated with Aylmer 1929)
Summers Corners United Church (amalgamated with Aylmer 1974)
Records: The United Church Archives in Toronto lists the following records for St. Paul’s in their holdings:
Quarterly Board Minutes (1856 – 1893)
Finance Committee Minutes (1895 – 1919)
Record of Offerings (1894 – 1908)
Women’s Auxiliary Minutes (1937 – 1939)
Visiting Record Book (not dated)
The following records, in original format, are housed at the church:
Baptisms (1840 – 1900, with gaps); (1900 – 1925) TO PRESENT????
Marriages (1840 – 1900, with gaps); (1900 – 1933)
Burials (1840 – 1900, with gaps); (1900 – ?)
Membership Lists (1898 – 1925)
Minutes (1900 – present)
Confirmations (1898 – 1909)
Circuit Register (1898 – 1909) Grovesend & Port Bruce (1860 – 1900)
The Elgin County Library also has church records on microfilm, from circa 1862 to 1990 on Microfilm numbers 1521 and 1522.
History: The Wesleyan Methodist congregation in Aylmer had its beginnings in 1845 due to the efforts of Aaron Price. In 1847, a frame church was built on the corner of what is now Queen & Sydenham Streets. There is a deed dated May 10, 1841 between Augustus Jones and the Trustees of the Wesleyan Methodist Church for 2/5 acre, part of lot 84, south side Talbot Road, which probably was for this church. At this time, the Aylmer Methodist Circuit consisted of eight other appointments, including Grovesend, Orwell, Port Bruce, Lyons, Richmond, MacLachlan’s, Brick Schoolhouse and Gravel Road. The first church was used until 1873, when the present building was built in 1874 on the northeast corner of Talbot & Queen Streets. A deed is dated Sept. 15, 1873 between James Finnie to the Trustees of the Aylmer Congregation of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, for 2/5 acre in lot 15, on the north side of Talbot Street. The new church was dedicated in October 1875 by Rev. Egerton Ryerson. The church seated over 700 people and boasted a 156 foot steeple. In 1897 a basement was excavated. About the same time the steeple was lowered by 50 feet, and had to be lowered again in 1937 and again in 1949. In 1956 a Christian Education building was completed, which contains the auditorium and stage, a Fellowship Room, the church office, classrooms, the kitchen and washroom facilities.
Further History: -History Book and Souvenir, St. Paul’s United Church, Aylmer, Diamond Jubilee 1874 – 1934 (Elgin OGS has a copy)
-article in Aylmer Express, Oct. 16, 1924: Jubilee celebration at St. Paul’s; photos of former ministers; history given
-A Journey of Faith – 1845-1995, published in 1995 for the150th anniversary
Ministers: Francis Berry
A. H. Smith
W. Ames
G. W. Calvert
Aaron Price
H. Tisdale
W. Bothwell
J. Best
Jeremiah VanWagoner
William McDonagh 1873-1876
David Brethour 1876-1879
George Richardson 1879-1882
B. Clement 1882-1885
J. R. Gundy 1885-1888
Dr. Pascoe 1888-1891
Thomas Cullen 1891-1893
R. J. Treleaven 1893-1896
James Livingston 1896-1898
C. T. Scott 1898-1901
G. W. McCallister 1901-1905
Joseph Philip 1905-1909
A. W. Tonge 1909-1913
A. E. M. Thomson 1913-1917
W. K. Hagar 1917-1921
H. T. Ferguson 1921-1925
Waldemar Williams 1925-1931
Gladstone Wood 1931-1934
C. E. Stenlake 1934-1943
L. C. Lawson 1943-1946
D. A. Cowan 1946-1951
T. G. Husser 1951-1958
Fred Bayes 1958-1962
J. A. Logan 1962-1970
Norman E. Jones 1970-1997
Donald Graham 1997-
***
Township: Malahide / Aylmer
Denomination: Methodist (Episcopal)
Name of Church: Aylmer Methodist Episcopal Church
Location: John Street, Aylmer (lot 83, south side Talbot Road)
Date of Formation: 1860’s
Date of Closing: 1884
Affiliations: merged with Wesleyan Methodist Church in Aylmer (St. Paul’s)
Records: no known records
History: There are two deeds relating to the Methodist Episcopal Church in Aylmer. The first, dated July 13, 1864, is between William Ernst [?] & Samuel Whaley and the Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for 1/5 acre in lot 83, south side Talbot Road. Lot 83 would be on what is now the west side of John Street South. Another deed, dated June 27, 1878, exists between Alonzo Lee and the Trustees of the Aylmer Methodist Episcopal Church, for 1/5 acre in lot 3 (Aylmer Town lot number), west side of the Aylmer & Port Bruce Gravel Road [ now John Street]. A deed also exists between Abram Beemer and the Trustees of the Canadian Wesleyan Methodist New Connexion, for 2/5 acre in lot 83, south side Talbot Road, bearing the date April 23, 1857. It is uncertain if this is a separate church, or if this congregation later became the Episcopal Methodists. Another deed, dated May 25, 1861 between Peter Clayton and the Trustees of the Wesleyan Methodist New Connexion – Francis Leeson, Isaac H. Mills, Owen Robertson, George Anger and Leander Benner, exists for a parcel in lot 84, south side Talbot Road, south side Sydenham street. It is not known what church this refers to.
A church was erected on John Street North in 1879, but was only used a few short years until the congregation joined with the Wesleyan Methodists (St. Paul’s). The church was purchased by the Anglican Congregation, and today is Trinity Anglican Church.
***
Township: Malahide / Aylmer
Denomination: Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada
Name of Church: Aylmer Evangelical Missionary Church
Location: 600 Talbot Street West, Aylmer, Ontario. N5H 2T8 (corner of Rogers Road & Talbot Line) 
Date of Formation: 1900
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations: formerly known as Mennonite Brethren
known as United Missionary Church from 1947 – 1968
merged with Missionary Church Association in 1968 to form the Missionary Church
Records: Baptism, marriage, death and membership records are complete from 1900 to the present; and board minutes from the 1970’s to the present. The records are located at the church office and with historical committee members, and are available for genealogical research
History: The Aylmer Evangelical Missionary Church has Mennonite roots and was first known as the United Missionary Church. In 1969, the United Missionary Church merged with the Missionary Church Association and became The Missionary Church. In 1993, the Missionary Church merged with the Evangelical Church and became the Evangelical Missionary Church. The Aylmer congregation was founded as a result of two missionary women who came from the St. Thomas mission. The City Mission Workers (as they were called), began to hold worship services in an upstairs auditorium over what is now Spicer’s Bakery at 20 Talbot St. West. In the early years of this congregation in Aylmer, they were informally known as the Gospel Mission. Later in 1900 a property at 75 Talbot St. W., almost across from the old Post Office was purchased, renovated and dedicated in 1900. On May 8, 1955, the cornerstone was laid for a new church on the corner of Oak and Elm Streets. Due to crowded conditions, a new church was built on the former Rogers property west of Aylmer, at 600 Talbot St. West in 1990. A history of the church was prepared in 1990 for its 90th anniversary (Elgin OGS has a copy)
Ministers: Rev. C. N. Good 1904-1906
Rev. W. Irish 1906
Rev. J. H. Clark 1907-1909
Rev. C. T. Homuth 1909-1911
Rev. C. Raymer 1911
Rec. C. T. Homuth 1914-1915
Rev. L. P. Raymer 1915-1916
Rev. J. Sider 1916-1917
Rev. E. Moyer 1917-1920
Rev. H. Gouldie 1921
Rev. J. Bowell 1921-1922
Rev. H. Goudie 1922-1923
Rev. W. B. Moyer 1923-1927
Rev. A. G. Warder 1927-1930
Rev. H. R. Frey 1930-1933
Rev. W. M. Shantz 1933-1937
Rev. E. Lucas 1937-1940
Rev. J. H. Sherk 1940-1941
Rev. L. K. Sider 1941-1944
Rev. W. H. Yates 1944-1945
Rev. G. Turnbull 1945-1949
Rev. D. T. Pugh 1949-1952
Rev. W. R. Geiger 1952-1957
Rev. H. Shantz 1957-1959
Rev. P. G. Lehman 1959-1962
Rev. C. G. West 1962-1966
Rev. D. E. Gray 1966-1979
Rev. Graham Burkhart 1979-1992
Rev. Frank Winsor 1992-1994
Rev. Herbert H. Bock 1994-1995
Rev. Michael Bells 1995-
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: The Religious Society of Friends (Quaker)
Name of Church: Malahide Preparative Meeting; Quaker Meeting House
Location: Lot 26, Concession 6, (or lot 99, south side Talbot Road) north west corner (same location as existing cemetery (Seville)- Talbot Line & Walker Rd.)
Date of Formation: 1842
Date of Closing: 1892
Affiliations: Norwich Monthly Meeting
Records: Births (1845 – 1892)
Marriages (1845 – 1892)
Deaths (1845 – 1892)
Membership Records (1845 – 1892)
Minutes of Preparative Meeting (1845 – 1892)
The above records are in original form housed at the Dorland Friends Collection, Pickering College, Newmarket, Ontario.
Microfilmed copies of most early records are available at the National Archives; Archives of Ontario; and the Regional History Department, D.B. Weldon Library, University of Western Ontario, London.
History: An 1846 Directory states that “there was a fair settlement of 160 Quakers, most living just east of Aylmer”. A meeting house was built on the northwest corner of lot 26, concession 6 (or lot 99, south side Talbot Road), the lot having been acquired from Reuben Kennedy on Oct. 22, 1845. The Preparative Meeting established in 1845, under the Norwich Monthly Meeting. A “Preparative” was the name given to a local group under a “Monthly” meeting. After this meeting house closed in 1892, it is probable that the congregation used the Dunboyne Union Church for some services, as there is a reference to Quaker meetings being held there. The Meeting House stood until the 1940’s and was sold and removed to a farm where it was used for a barn.
***
Township: Malahide / Aylmer
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Name of Church: Our Lady of Sorrows (formerly called St. John’s)
Date of Formation: circa 1901 (first Mass) 
Date of Closing: active
Location: 116 John Street South, Aylmer, Ontario. N5H 2C4
Affiliations: Holy Angels Church, St. Thomas
St. Birgitta, Port Bruce
Records: Baptisms (1940-present)
Marriages (1940-present)
Burials (1940-present)
Membership Lists (1940-present)
Board Minutes (1940-present)
Cemetery Information
Parish Directories
Confirmation records
First Eucharist records
These records are located at the church and at the Diocese of London. They are not available for research to the general public. Under the Church’s discretion, information can be given to an individual.
History: Somewhere around the turn of the century a priest started to come from St. Thomas to Aylmer. It is known that Mass was offered in June 1901 in the home of John Kiley. About this time Aylmer officially became a mission of St. Thomas. For the first few years Mass was offered in private homes. In 1911, Father John Hogan set up a more permanent place of worship, by renting and equipping a hall in the second storey of what was later the Foodland Grocery Store. The first Mass was held July 7, 1911 and the church was named St. John’s. After two years of meeting above the store, a house on St. George Street was purchased. Services were held there until 1937 when the church rented a hall over Miller’s Hardware Store. In 1939 Father White was appointed pastor of the new parish of Our Lady of Sorrows. A lot was purchased from Mrs. McConnell on the corner of Pine and John St. South. The cornerstone for a new church was laid on December 10, 1939 and the first Mass was offered in the new building on January 14, 1940. At this time, the church was still a basement, with the colonial-designed upper storey being completed in 1951.
Further history: -article in Aylmer Express, June 13, 1912: congregation purchases house on St. George street; will convert to a church
– article in Aylmer Express, July 11, 1912: Catholic church opened
– article in Aylmer Express, July 13, 1939; Aylmer becomes a Roman Catholic parish; Father S.E. White, St. Thomas, appointed pastor
-article in Aylmer Express, Nov. 16, 1939; sod turned for new church
– article in Aylmer Express, Dec. 14, 1939; cornerstone laid
– article in Aylmer Express, Jan. 18, 1940; first mass held in new church
Ministers: Rev. Fr. John Hogan circa 1911
Rev. Fr. Corcoran
Rev. Fr. Blair
Rev. Fr. S. E. White circa 1939-1958
assistants: Fr. M. H. Sullivan 1941-1946
Fr. Hugh Fleming 1946-1950
Fr. J. T. Hollerhead 1951-1956
Fr. William Morris 1956-1958
Rev. Fr. Hugh Fleming 1958-1972
assistants: Fr. John Harper 1958-1962
Fr. Charles Beuglet 1962-1964
Fr. Dan Morand 1964-1966
Fr. James Blonde 1966-1969
Fr. Ronald Reeves 1969-1974
Rev. Fr. Charles McManus 1972-1981
Rev. Fr. James Summers 1981-1993
Rev. Fr. Terrance McNamara 1993-1998
Rev. Fr. Gilbert Simard 1998-
***
Township: Malahide / Aylmer
Denomination: Apostolic Church of Pentecost of Canada
Name of Church: The People’s Full Gospel Tabernacle
Incorporated as Aylmer Full Gospel Church in 1997 
Location: 344 Talbot Street East, Aylmer
Date of Formation: 1943 [or 1949]
Date of Closing: active
Records: Baptisms (1997 – present)
Marriages (1949 – present)
Membership Lists (1977 – present)
Board Minutes (1965 – present)
These records are in original format, located at the church office. The records are not available to the public for research, but interested persons may contact the church office.
History: Originally known as “The People’s Full Gospel Tabernacle”, this church had its beginnings at prayer meetings in 1943. In 1947, Glen Francis became the first pastor and meetings were held over the former Gunstone Shoe Store on Talbot Street. A few months later, a house on 344 Talbot Street East was purchased, to which a main auditorium was added. The new church was dedicated April 17, 1949. In 1981 an addition was made to the church, including two new wings to the front of the building, enlarging the entrance, washroom and nursery facilities, and a multi-purpose room. Until 1994 the church was an independent assembly. In January of that year they entered into affiliation with the Apostolic Church of Pentecost of Canada.
Further history: A history of the church has been compiled. Contact the church for further information.
Ministers: Rev. Glen Francis 1947-1954
C. Davis 1954-1955
M. Riness 1956-1958
D. Foley 1958-1959
R. Spurrell 1960-1966
P. Heidt 1966-1972
N. McNeill 1972-1973
M. Fuller 1973-1978
R. Tauber 1978-1981
Peter Barbour 1981-
***
Township: Malahide / Aylmer
Denomination: The Christian Reformed Church in North America
Name of Church: Aylmer Christian Reformed Church
Location: 194 South Street, Aylmer, Ontario. N5H 1S3 (at Caverly Road) 
Date of Formation: 1949
Date of Closing: active
Records: Records of Baptism, Marriage, Membership and Minutes exist from 1949. The present records are located at the church office. The church archives is located at the home of Marinus Booy, R.R. #2, St. Thomas, Ontario, N5P 3S6. Information is available possibly upon request to the Church Council.
History: During the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, many Dutch immigrants and their families had moved into the Aylmer area. On April 25, 1948 a group of five Dutch families rented the basement of St. Paul’s United Church for afternoon worship service. From then on, there was a regular worship service in Aylmer every Sunday at 2:00 p.m. On Nov. 4, 1948, Rev. John Gritter from Grand Rapids became the missionary-pastor for the Aylmer area; his territory was from Tillsonburg to the Glencoe area. A parsonage was purchased for the minister on John Street South at that time. On May 29, 1949, the Aylmer congregation was officially organized with about 50 families. Services were held in the basement of the Baptist Church and then in the Town Hall. The congregation purchased property on the corner of South Street and Caverly Road upon which a church was built and opened, with dedication services on December 13 & 14, 1950. It was a white frame building with a basement and seating capacity of 350 in the sanctuary. Due to church growth, in 1967 it was decided to build a new church behind the old one, and then to tear the old building down. The dedication service of the present church took place on March 6, 1968. In 1991 a group of about 24 families left to form what is now the Bethel United Reformed Church, which meet in Springfield. In 1994 a large addition was built onto the back of the church, which includes a large nursery, Pastor and secretary offices, council room and several meetings rooms. On May 28-30, 1999, the congregation celebrated its 50th anniversary. An Anniversary Book was compiled.
Ministers: Rev. John Gritter 1948-1950
Rev. Joseph Vande Kieft 1951-1958
Rev. John Koopmans 1958-1962
Rev. Carl Tuyl 1962-1966
Rev. C. Spoor 1967-1973
Rev. William Renkema 1974-1979
Dr. H. J. Boekhoven 1980-1990
Rev. R. A. Wynia 1987-1991
Rev. John Hellinga 1994-2000
Pastor Louis Bosma 1996-
Rev. Richard deLange 2000-
***
Township: Malahide / Aylmer
Denomination: Lutheran
Name of Church: St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Location: corner of Talbot Street West & Caverly Rd., Aylmer 
Date of Formation: 1938
Date of Closing: active
Records: no response to questionnaire
History: The first Lutheran service in Aylmer took place in 1938 at the home of Mr. & Mrs. John Stanat, conducted by Pastor John Reble. Later a service was held at Mr. & Mrs. Albert Hessler’s near Straffordville. Meetings were postponed due to the war, until 1942 when a small group met in the Summer’s Corners United Church. In 1944, monthly services were arranged to be held in Trinity Anglican Church, and later at the Town Hall. The congregation was officially organized on May 2, 1946 by Rev. John Mangelsen. Later that year the former home of Harley Ryckman, at 428 Talbot Street West, was renovated to serve as a chapel and manse, and was dedicated Dec. 8, 1946. A new church was built near the corner of Talbot Street West and Caverly Road in 1952 and dedicated on April 26, 1953.
Further history: “A Brief History”, prepared by Rev. Henry W. Schaper, 1996.
Ministers:
Rev. John Reble 1938-
Rev. John Mangelsen 1946-1950
Dr. Arthur B. Little
Rev. Frederick W. Haak 1951-1960
Rev. Christian Clausen-Mohr 1960-1964
Rev. Joachim Knaack 1965-1969
Rev. Erich Griebling 1970-1977
Alfred Pinnau & Henry Schaper (students) 1977
Rev. Henry Schaper 1978-
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: United Brethren
Name of Church: Malahide United Brethren
Location: not known
Date of Formation: possibly 1887
Date of Closing: not known
Affiliations: None known.
Records: no known records
History: A parcel of land , part of lot 28, Con. 5 ( 1/4 acres) was leased to the Trustees of the United Brethren in Christ – B .J. Nichols, William Shepherd, Moses Brown, John Phillmore & Ezra Gamble – by Edward & Mary Powell in 1887. It is not known whether a church building was ever erected on this site.
***
Township: Malahide/Aylmer
Denomination: Multi-racial organization
Name of Church: Church of God
Location: highway 73 just north of Aylmer (Imperial Road)
Date of Formation: 1990
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations: None.
Records: no response to questionnaire
History: The Church of God congregation in Aylmer started in 1990 when a group of the Church of God from other areas held services here. Services were first held in a renovated shop on Walker Road with a capacity of only 80 people. As steady growth was experienced by the congregation in 1996, the church rented the Luton Community Centre with a capacity of 110 people. Meanwhile steps were being taken to purchase a suitable property for a permanent meeting place. Property just north of Aylmer on Highway 73 was purchased and construction was started in November of 1996. In April of 1998, the new chapel was ready for occupancy, seating 200. A multi-racial congregation, translators are always present in every service for four different languages.
Ministers: Henry Hildebrandt 1993-
***
Township: Malahide/Aylmer
Denomination:
Name of Church: German Church of God
Location: 9 Bradley Street, Aylmer, Ontario. N5H 2Y4
Date of Formation: 1968
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations: None known
Records: no response to questionnaire
History: The first assembly of the German Church of God was in the form of a Christmas service in 1968, which took place in a private home, attended by 100 people. Following that date, Sunday afternoon services were held once a month in the Legion Hall in Aylmer, continuing until October 1969, when a former schoolhouse in the Kingsmill area was rented for weekly services. In 1973 the present church was built on Bradley street.
Ministers: Joseph Jakobsh 1972-1982
Alfred Brin 1982-1988
Reinhard Berndt 1988-
***
Township: Malahide/Aylmer
Denomination: Jehovah’s Witnesses
Name of Church: The Kingdom Hall
Location: John Street North, Aylmer; at Glencolin Line
Date of Formation: pre 1940
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations:
Records: no questionnaire response
History: The beginnings of this congregation drew about 20 to 30 people, who met in homes and halls in Aylmer and Springfield and held public meetings in school and parks. In the late 1940’s, the first Kingdom Hall was built on John Street South. It was destroyed by fire, but rebuilt on the same site and is still standing. The present Kingdom Hall was built in 1996 on John Street North at Glencolin Line.
***
Township: Malahide/Aylmer
Denomination:
Name of Church: Creekside Community Church
Location: 649 Talbot Street West, Aylmer, Ontario
Date of Formation:
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations:
Records: no response to questionnaire
History:
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Mennonite
Name of Church: Evangelical Mennonite Mission Church
Location: Summers Corners (R. R. #1 Aylmer, Ontario. N5H 2R1)
Date of Formation:
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations:
Records: no response to questionnaire
History:
Ministers: Jake Friesen (773-3374)
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination:
Name of Church: Fountain of Life Gospel Temple
Location: Luton (former Luton United Church)
Date of Formation:
Date of Closing: active?
Affiliations:
Records: no response to questionnaire
History:
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination: Evangelical Mennonite Conference
Name of Church: Mount Salem Evangelical Mennonite Church
Location: Mount Salem (R. R. #6 Aylmer, Ontario, N5H 2R5)
6576 Springfield Road
Date of Formation: October 8, 1976
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations:
Records: Minutes of Board Meetings 1976 to present
Marriage Records 1977 to present
Baptism Records 1978 to present
Minutes of Membership Meetings and Membership Lists
These records are located in the church office, and would be available for genealogical research after arrangements have been made with the Church Executive.
History: The Mount Salem Evangelical Mennonite Church was begun in 1976 with Rev. and Mrs. Cornelius Dueck coming from Manitoba to start a church with Mennonite immigrants who had moved into the Aylmer area. After leasing a church building on Lakeshore Road from the Dofasco Steel Company, the new congregation purchased the Mount Salem School building in the village of Mount Salem. When the congregation outgrew this facility, a new auditorium was built adjacent to the school building. This building was extended further in 1992. The congregation responded to the rapid growth that was happening by establishing a new church in Straffordville in 1996. Another congregation was started in February 2000 in the town of Tillsonburg. The congregation is made up almost entirely of people with an ethnic Mennonite background. While most of the original founding members were immigrant Mennonite people, a majority of the current members have been born and educated in Canada. This has resulted in a transition from using the Low German language in the worship service to English. The congregation is affiliated with the Evangelical Mennonite Conference with headquarters in Steinbach, Manitoba.
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination:
Name of Church: Old Colony Mennonite Church
Location: Dingle Street (R. R. #1 Aylmer, Ontario. N5H 2R1)
Date of Formation:
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations:
Records: no response to questionnaire
History:
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination:
Name of Church: Old Sommerfelder Gemeinde of Ontario
Location: R. R. #2 Aylmer, Ontario. N5H 2R2
located on John Street South, Aylmer, (or 6236 Imperial Road)
Date of Formation:
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations:
Records: no response to questionnaire
History:
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination:
Name of Church: Open Bible Baptist Church
Location: Hacienda Road (R. R. #1 Aylmer, Ontario. N5H 2R1)
Date of Formation:
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations:
Records: no response to questionnaire
History:
***
Township: Malahide
Denomination:
Name of Church: Reinland Fellowship Mennonite Church
Location: R. R. # 4 Aylmer, Ontario N5H 2R3
Date of Formation:
Date of Closing: active
Affiliations:
Records: no response to questionnaire
History: