Britannia United Church
Location:
5961 Hurontario Street, Mississauga. , Peel Region, Ontario, Canada.
Concession 1E Lot 5, Toronto Township.
GPS:
Latitude: 43.62600°N
Longitude: -79.67870°W
History:
The first report of religious services held in Britannia or “Gardner’s Clearing” as it was then known was in 1821 in a log church in what was called Gardner’s Chapel. The settlement changed its name to Britannia in 1890. The denomination was Wesleyan-Methodist and became part of the United Church Congregation in 1925. The land for both church and cemetery were donated by Joseph Gardner in 1830.
The church was originally called Gardner’s Chapel or Gardner’s Methodist Church. The current building replaced a log structure, built in 1821 on the north corner of where the present church sits. Britannia United Church is believed to have been built in 1843, as its datestone under the front entrance gable indicates, however the structure only acquired its current appearance after extensive renovations in 1864 and again in 1897 to accommodate its growing population. During the later renovation, a basement was excavated, and the interior was updated. Britannia United Church is a good representation of the rural interpretation of High Victorian Gothic style.
The church closed October 31, 2006.
The church and cemetery property were designated to be of architectural and historical value by Bylaw #1004-81 on December 14, 1981, by the City of Mississauga.
Cornelius Flummerfelt preached the first sermon in Gardner’s Church in the spring of 1821. He was followed by John Carroll who also preached in other stations on the Toronto West circuit until 1827. Other ministers that followed were:
From 1830-1830 William Lawson, Thomas Thompson, Robert Walker
From 1830-1835 Edward Storey, Thomas McMullen
From 1835-1842 Rawley Heyland, Simon Huntington
From 1843-1845 John P. Hetherington
From 1845-1851 J. E. Sanderson
In 1848 Toronto West was divided and Britannia was included in the Brampton circuit. In 1866 the Church was transferred to the Streetsville circuit when Rev. Charles Fish and Benjamin Clements served as ministers. After the United Church came into being, the Church became part of the Cooksville circuit and remained until 1957. After that it shared ministerial supply with Bethesda, Hornby and Eden churches.
In the early days it was necessary to rely upon local devoted preachers to occupy circuit pulpits at different times. Among those who rendered yeoman service were: Robert Gardner, Matthew Waite, Thomas Holtby, Thomas Forster, George Coulter, John Miller, John Watson, James Gooderham, George Mason and William Walker.
The pioneer families of the area were:
Austin Chester Clay
Cotton Danby Donoghue
Evans Forster Gardner
Hall Johnston Kee
Leary Lougheed McClelland
Muir Nesbitt Reeve
Sharp Sibbald Smith
Snider Steel Treanor
Waite Winter Wright
The cemetery is located to the east and south of the church. An iron fence was erected around the land in 1949. In 1979 a new iron fence was erected. The first burials in the cemetery began in 1837. There is evidence that there may have been earlier burials, but they are not recorded. In 1910 the cemetery was enlarged, and again in 1933.
Ronald Hibbert
Sources:
● https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2168438/britannia-united-church-cemetery
● City of Mississauga Heritage Register Report; Johnston, Charles.
● Canada’s Historic Places https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=15022
Transcription purchase:
Transcriptions of this cemetery are available for digital download from the OGS website – click here to order via credit card.