Monkman’s Primitive Methodist and Wesleyan Methodist Cemeteries
Location:
15290 Mount Hope Road, Caledon, Peel Region, Ontario, Canada.
Concession 7, lots 17 & 18, Albion Township.
GPS:
Latitude: 43.9234°N
Longitude: -79.7750°W
History:
There were two churches known as Monkman’s on the 8th line of Albion Township; one Primitive, the other Wesleyan.
The Primitive Methodist Church stood on the east half of lot 18 concession 7 and the land was granted by John Monkman to the trustees Thomas Bowes, Benjamin Roadhouse, Joseph Dixon, Robert Garbutt, George Godbolt, George Hudson and Jeremiah Hart for the Primitive Methodist Connexion in Canada, on May 26, 1851.
One of the bitterest feuds in the county raged for years between the two congregations, though Monkman and Roadhouse supported both. The two churches finally united.
Dec 5, 1862: “Monkman’s is a Sabbath School that has only been organized with much fear and trembling. The secretary reports 80 scholars and 15 teachers.”
The church stood strong until 1858. In March 1858 the class had 25 members and by September it had only 2. By December it was back up to 25 and continued to be one of the strongest Albion classes up to 1883. Prominent members were: John Monkman, Duke Monkman, William Kellington, John Colley, Robert Garbutt, Joshua Boyce, and Ed Bradley.
As previously mentioned, the Wesleyan Chapel was also located on the 8th line, very close to the Primitive Chapel located on Lot 17 Concession 7, the property of James Monkman. The following report of Dec 11, 1850 states; “Dedication services of the new Wesleyan Chapel in Monkman’s neighbourhood on the Bradford Circuit on Sabbath 29 next.”
Later the Wesleyans moved further down the 8th line and called the church variously; Mount Hurst, Mount Hope and finally Castlederg.
Reference “Palgrave – The United Church and Community” by Florence E. McLean and the Rev.
George A. Mundy.
Monkman’s Church has been torn down and the cemeteries gathered into two cairns, Lots 17 and 18 located on either side of a low building set back from the 8th line.
Nora E. Hibbert
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