History: Some of the Aldershot houses of worship date back to the early days. The oldest congregation in this area is East Plains United on Plains Road East. It is believed services began in a log building and this could have been the home of Aaron and Jane Emory. Jane Van Norman, daughter of Isaac Van Norman, was the first woman in Upper Canada to earn a B.A. degree. She married Aaron D. Emory, a widower, who came to Aldershot from Appleby and religious services held in their home led to the founding of the East Plains United Church.

In 1793, Harcar Lyons and his wife, Marcy Peers, widow of Thomas Roseborough came from Warren, Sussex County, New Jersey. They petitioned Governor Simcoe for a grant of land and settled in East Flamborough. In 1838 Joseph Lyons, a son of Harcar, inherited Lot 3 in Concession 1, East Flamborough, when his father died. The East Flamborough map in the Wentworth County Atlas of 1875 shows a church on Lot 3, Concession 1. This is East Plains United Church, 375 Plains Road East, Aldershot. The memorial stone for Joseph Lyons in this cemetery reads: “Joseph Lyons gave this land in 1843 and built the first church on it mostly at his own expence – died April 1872 aged 72 years” (he died in Minnesota).

One hundred and sixty-eight monuments are visible today in the well kept cemetery, the oldest one is for “Dunnie, son of E.B. & E.J. Emory, born 3 July 1822, died 14 Feb 1829”. The most interesting monument, broken at the top, whether by vandals or age, is poignant, historical and beautiful in thought, showing the love given to a lonely widow – it reads “Here lies Granny Preston, widow of an old Waterloo soldier, lonely and without relatives, but had a few true friends; she rests in peace – died 19th April 1862, aged 82 years”. [from “From Pathway to Skyway – A history of Burlington” by Claire Emery and Barbara Ford Elinor Athawes (who is a 2G-grand-daughter of Harcar Lyons)]