Merton Mount Pleasant Methodist Episcopal Cemetery
Location:
2222 North Service Road, Oakville, Halton Region, Ontario, Canada.
Concession 2 SDS, lot 28, Trafalgar Township.
GPS:
Latitude: 43.4172°N
Longitude: -79.7335°W
History:
“SACRED EDIFICE BUILT IN 1880 BEING OFFERED FOR AUCTION”
The offering of a church building by public auction is happily not a frequent occurrence in Canada. Churches may close for a multitude of reason but there is always a tinge of sadness about such happenings. Numerous people in any community have attended a church for years and about it hovers many pleasant and sacred associations from which people do not
wish to disassociate.
Yet with advent of the motor car and the annihilation of distance, with the church union fever prevalent as well as other reasons, there is a likelihood that may churches particularly in sparsely settled districts will be doomed to a similar fate.
This afternoon the massively built brick former Methodist Episcopal Mt Pleasant church at Merton west of Oakville is being offered for sale. The chances are that it will be totally dis- mantled with the materials and furnishings removed.
Needless to say that several families living nearby will be filled with regret with regret at the probable disappearance of the church even though no service has been held there since May 1918. While the edifice stood there was the sense that services and Sunday School might be restored. Several families grew up attending this church and Sunday School each Sunday for many years, and many will enthusiastically remember anniversaries and largely attended tea gatherings. The Star man recalls acting as chairman on one of the occasions, being his first attempt at occupying such an important position. Rev Dr Strongman was the pastor.
The church building was erected in the year 1880 with Miles Vokes of Toronto as contractor. The walls were made of solid brick and the edifice was generally of a massive character. The interior was appropriately furnished. The corner stone was laid by the late Mrs (Dr) Buck. The church was almost completed by the end of 1880 and the dedication service took place on Sunday February 2 1881. Rev Mr. Stone of Hamilton was the preacher and Rev Mr Argue wasthe pastor.
A monster tea party followed the opening at which Mr. McCraney, M.P. for Halton, was chairman. Besides being a contributor, he gave the church a set of pulpit chairs and the timbers and lumber for the church sheds. W Utter had given an acre of land for the church and the adjoining cemetery. The land was to be maintained as a cemetery even though the church building was removed. George Hebblethwaite a member of the original Board was the first interment in 1886.
Arch A Speers is the only surviving member of the first official Board and Building Committee. The others were George Hebblethwaite; John Husband, father of the secretary to the present Board; Herbert Inglehart; Wm Utter, Wm Hagar, C W Utter, Herbert Inglehart, secretary.
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