Shiloh Wesleyan Methodist Church Cemetery
Also known as: Cedar Mills Cemetery
Location:
3 Cedar Mains Drive, Caledon, Peel Region, Ontario, Canada.
Concession 7, lot 20, Albion Township.
GPS:
Latitude: 43.9253°N
Longitude: -79.8035°W
History:
At the extreme northwest corner of Lot 21 Concession 7 was the local schoolhouse. Joseph Roadhouse opened a Sunday School in this public school. He borrowed a chair from Samuel Robb for his seat as Superintendent.
On September 14, 1857 Samuel and Martha Robb granted half an acre of the east half of Lot 20, Concession 6 for a Wesleyan Methodist church to the Trustees – John Vance, Richard Shore, Henry Harper, Joseph Roadhouse, William Roadhouse. They were Trustees of the Zion Congregation in Canada in connection with the English Conference. (It was however never called Zion). The church is shown on the Tremaine map of 1859.
A frame building was erected with two rows of seats with an aisle and stove in the centre. The pulpit was placed high in a semi-circular alcove with doors to either side and four steps down to the floor.
It was not until 1905 that the church was bricked by James Bible, the last local bricklayer, who lived in a house just south of the churchyard fence. At this time the church was completely renovated, and new windows and seats installed.
Joseph Roadhouse and later Robert Robb led the singing in the church, prior to Robert Robb giving the first organ to the Church. For half a century the organist was Martha Robb, his daughter and the granddaughter of Samuel Robb. Martha taught music as a young girl, later marrying a church member Henry Verner whose farm was on the same lot as the church.
The grist mill that was built on the Humber River burned down in 1888. The Cedar Mills Post Office which had been located in the grist mill was moved by Robert Robb (the one and only post master for Cedar Mills) to his house.
The church is still standing but has been converted into a private residence. It has no basement, resting on huge wooden beams. The top parts of the gothic windows have been covered but one can still see the shape of them. The occupant noted that if one looks up through the trap door in one of the cupboards one can see the painting on the church ceiling.
The cemetery is in a wooded area not easily seen from the main road. It has a fence and gate.
The wrought iron enclosure of the Stewart plot has been repainted recently under the supervision of Heather Broadbent Chairperson of the Caledon Heritage Committee.
Heather is also responsible for the ground cover of periwinkles, the old method of weed and lilac control. Most of the monuments can be identified; not so many however can still be read.
Shiloh pastors as part of the Bolton Circuit were:
1. Thos Lawson
2. Leroyd
3. Savage
4. Sherlock
5. Barras
6. Matheson
7. Thos Glover
8. Peter Campbell
9. Henry McDougall
10. Shem Blanchard (later served as pastor from Palgrave)
Shiloh Church was transferred to the Palgrave Circuit.
Resources: William Perkins Bull Collection – Peel Archives Brampton ON
Bea Byrne, June 15 1990
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