Salem United Primitive Methodist Cemetery
Location:
12295 Innis Lake Road, Caledon, Peel Region, Ontario, Canada.
Concession 2, lot 2, Albion Township.
GPS:
Latitude: 43.8062°N
Longitude: -79.7559°W
History:
One of the early converts to Primitive Methodism in Albion Township was Isaac Wilson. He was the son of “English” Wilson who provided a home and preaching place for Anglican clergy such as Rev. Adam Elliot (see history of St. James Albion). Isaac would walk fifteen miles to a P.M. preaching place. He married Jane Woodhill, daughter of a class leader at nearby Woodhill settlement. Jane was a preacher herself and preached throughout the county.
According to the Christian Guardian of November 14, 1862 “Salem was taken up as part of the Etobicoke Circuit, but for two or three years it was feared that it would have to be given up.” The preaching began in Wilson’s log shanty. A log church was built around 1848, that, according to the 1852 census, would hold 100 people.
In 1860 a meeting was held at which it was decided to raise funds to build a new chapel. The opening of the red brick church, which still stands today, took place on Oct. 12, 1862. The trustees were Isaac Wilson, James Bailey, John Hewson, Henry Proctor, James Piercey, and George Shaw.
Salem Methodist celebrated its Diamond Jubilee on Oct. 15, 1922 and was at that time part of the Mono Road Circuit. Today it is still an active church, one of the few Primitive Methodist churches to survive.
The early baptismal records for the Primitive Methodists can be found at the United Church Archives, Victoria College. The first years of the church there was one circuit, under the Toronto Conference. These records are filed under, CITY OF TORONTO, ST. LUKES CHURCH.
The register begins in 1832 and covers York, Peel, and some of Halton County.
Elaine Robinson
Transcription purchase:
Transcriptions of this cemetery are available for digital download from the OGS website – click here to order via credit card.