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British Methodist Episcopal Church

January 03, 2023

The British Methodist Episcopal Church (BMEC) is a Protestant church in Canada that has its roots in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) of the United States.

History

The AMEC had been formed in 1816 when a number of black congregations banded together under the leadership of Richard Allen, and by the mid-1850s it had seven conferences in the United States. AMEC preachers began to work in Upper Canada in 1834, and a conference was formed in 1840.

In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act was passed in the United States causing some ex-slave AMEC preachers in the United Canadas to be fearful of attending conferences in the U.S.

Reverend Benjamin Stewart of Chatham, Ontario proposed that the AME churches in the United Canadas separate from the U.S. association and form their own church. At an AME conference the new church was named the British Methodist Episcopal Church in appreciation of finding a safe haven from slavery in British North America. In Philadelphia in 1856, Stewart's proposal was adopted and the new church association was founded. Reverend Augustus R. Green, later BME Bishop Green (though he is reported as being thrown out of the Church when he and colleagues later challenged Nazrey, whereupon they began the Independent Methodist Episcopal Church[1]), publisher and editor of the True Royalist and Weekly Intelligencer was also a part of this movement.[2]

Its first bishop was Reverend Willis Nazrey of Virginia. When Nazrey died in 1875, Richard Randolph Disney was chosen as his successor, and he was ordained by an AMEC bishop that year. His administrative area consisted of Ontario, Nova Scotia, Bermuda, the West Indies, and British Guiana (Guyana).

By 1880, the BMEC had "grown from 250 to 2,684 members, and boasted 77 ministers, 37 Sabbath-schools, 1,727 scholars, 156 officers and teachers, 10 church buildings, and over 25,000 attendees in the Caribbean".[3] However, the mission work outside Canada stretched the church's funds, and in 1880 Disney negotiated a reunion with the AMEC at the quadrennial General Conference, setting into motion a union between the AMEC and the BMEC that was later ratified at a BMEC convention held at Hamilton in June 1881. The merger seemed beneficial for the AMEC because of the step that it represented towards the consolidation of Black Methodists across the United States. A merger would also stretch the AMEC's influence. A referendum of members showed that although a majority in Ontario was opposed, 86 per cent of the membership was in favour. Disney was accepted as an AMEC bishop and was assigned to its Tenth Episcopal District, a region embracing his former territory and some of the AMEC churches in Canada that had not joined the BMEC.

A majority of the Ontario churches and preachers, led by the Reverend Walter Hawkins of Chatham, sought to re-establish the BMEC. This group feared the loss of their distinctive identity, and may have been concerned that the opinions of Ontario members had been overwhelmed by those of the Caribbean groups.

In 1886 this group held an ecclesiastical council at Chatham, at which it was claimed that Disney had defected to the AMEC. At a subsequent general conference that year the BMEC was reconstituted. The conference deposed Disney, agreeing to "erase his name and ignore his authority, and cancel his official relationship as bishop." The reconstituted BMEC elected Hawkins as its general superintendent, avoiding the title of bishop for several years.

Disney continued with what was left of his AMEC district until 1888, when he was transferred to Arkansas and Mississippi.

By 1898 the BMEC had 27 preaching points and 25 preachers, the AMEC 130 churches in Canada. The two denominations continue their separate work to this day.

Modern day

 
S.R. Drake Memorial Church in Brantford, ON

The BME church has seen a major decline in membership over the years, resulting in many closures. In 1985, the BME church in Woodstock, Ontario, Hawkins Chapel, shut its doors and was converted into a single-family home.[4] The BME church of Collingwood followed a similar fate in 1990.[5] In 2003, the North Buxton congregation broke with the church - choosing to operate as an independent community church instead.[6] The most recent church to close its doors was in Guelph in 2011. The former BME building was put up for sale, and purchased by the Guelph Black Heritage Society in 2012.[7]

Although now closed, other BME churches existed in Stratford, Fort Erie, Queen's Bush, Puce (Lakeshore), Simcoe, Ingersoll, Dresden, and Harrow.[8] These churches would have formed the centre of a sizable black community in these towns.[9]

Two BME churches have been designated National Historic Sites of Canada due to their roles in welcoming Underground Railroad refugees to the United Canadas and their historic importance to the Black community in the Niagara region: one in Niagara Falls, Ontario, named in honour of Robert Nathaniel Dett,[10][11] and the Salem Chapel, British Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Catharines, due to its association with Harriet Tubman.[12][13]

As of 2018, fewer than 9 churches remain in operation, with churches operating in the following cities:

Ontario

January 03, 2023
british, methodist, episcopal, church, bmec, protestant, church, canada, that, roots, african, methodist, episcopal, church, amec, united, states, denominationprotestantadministrationprovincecanadadioceseafrican, methodist, episcopal, churchparishontario, cont. The British Methodist Episcopal Church BMEC is a Protestant church in Canada that has its roots in the African Methodist Episcopal Church AMEC of the United States British Methodist Episcopal ChurchDenominationProtestantAdministrationProvinceCanadaDioceseAfrican Methodist Episcopal ChurchParishOntario Contents 1 History 2 Modern day 2 1 Ontario 3 Bishops 4 See also 5 References 6 SourcesHistory EditThe AMEC had been formed in 1816 when a number of black congregations banded together under the leadership of Richard Allen and by the mid 1850s it had seven conferences in the United States AMEC preachers began to work in Upper Canada in 1834 and a conference was formed in 1840 In 1850 the Fugitive Slave Act was passed in the United States causing some ex slave AMEC preachers in the United Canadas to be fearful of attending conferences in the U S Reverend Benjamin Stewart of Chatham Ontario proposed that the AME churches in the United Canadas separate from the U S association and form their own church At an AME conference the new church was named the British Methodist Episcopal Church in appreciation of finding a safe haven from slavery in British North America In Philadelphia in 1856 Stewart s proposal was adopted and the new church association was founded Reverend Augustus R Green later BME Bishop Green though he is reported as being thrown out of the Church when he and colleagues later challenged Nazrey whereupon they began the Independent Methodist Episcopal Church 1 publisher and editor of the True Royalist and Weekly Intelligencer was also a part of this movement 2 Its first bishop was Reverend Willis Nazrey of Virginia When Nazrey died in 1875 Richard Randolph Disney was chosen as his successor and he was ordained by an AMEC bishop that year His administrative area consisted of Ontario Nova Scotia Bermuda the West Indies and British Guiana Guyana By 1880 the BMEC had grown from 250 to 2 684 members and boasted 77 ministers 37 Sabbath schools 1 727 scholars 156 officers and teachers 10 church buildings and over 25 000 attendees in the Caribbean 3 However the mission work outside Canada stretched the church s funds and in 1880 Disney negotiated a reunion with the AMEC at the quadrennial General Conference setting into motion a union between the AMEC and the BMEC that was later ratified at a BMEC convention held at Hamilton in June 1881 The merger seemed beneficial for the AMEC because of the step that it represented towards the consolidation of Black Methodists across the United States A merger would also stretch the AMEC s influence A referendum of members showed that although a majority in Ontario was opposed 86 per cent of the membership was in favour Disney was accepted as an AMEC bishop and was assigned to its Tenth Episcopal District a region embracing his former territory and some of the AMEC churches in Canada that had not joined the BMEC A majority of the Ontario churches and preachers led by the Reverend Walter Hawkins of Chatham sought to re establish the BMEC This group feared the loss of their distinctive identity and may have been concerned that the opinions of Ontario members had been overwhelmed by those of the Caribbean groups In 1886 this group held an ecclesiastical council at Chatham at which it was claimed that Disney had defected to the AMEC At a subsequent general conference that year the BMEC was reconstituted The conference deposed Disney agreeing to erase his name and ignore his authority and cancel his official relationship as bishop The reconstituted BMEC elected Hawkins as its general superintendent avoiding the title of bishop for several years Disney continued with what was left of his AMEC district until 1888 when he was transferred to Arkansas and Mississippi By 1898 the BMEC had 27 preaching points and 25 preachers the AMEC 130 churches in Canada The two denominations continue their separate work to this day Modern day Edit S R Drake Memorial Church in Brantford ON The BME church has seen a major decline in membership over the years resulting in many closures In 1985 the BME church in Woodstock Ontario Hawkins Chapel shut its doors and was converted into a single family home 4 The BME church of Collingwood followed a similar fate in 1990 5 In 2003 the North Buxton congregation broke with the church choosing to operate as an independent community church instead 6 The most recent church to close its doors was in Guelph in 2011 The former BME building was put up for sale and purchased by the Guelph Black Heritage Society in 2012 7 Although now closed other BME churches existed in Stratford Fort Erie Queen s Bush Puce Lakeshore Simcoe Ingersoll Dresden and Harrow 8 These churches would have formed the centre of a sizable black community in these towns 9 Two BME churches have been designated National Historic Sites of Canada due to their roles in welcoming Underground Railroad refugees to the United Canadas and their historic importance to the Black community in the Niagara region one in Niagara Falls Ontario named in honour of Robert Nathaniel Dett 10 11 and the Salem Chapel British Methodist Episcopal Church in St Catharines due to its association with Harriet Tubman 12 13 As of 2018 fewer than 9 churches remain in operation with churches operating in the following cities Ontario Edit R Nathaniel Dett British Methodist Episcopal Church Niagara Falls Ontario National Historic Site of Canada Toronto 2 East York and York London Owen Sound Brantford Windsor Mississauga Niagara Falls St CatharinesBrantford 14 Bishops Edit Reverend Willis Nazrey 1856 1875 Bishop Richard Randolph Disney 1875 See also Edit List of Methodist churches List of Methodist denominations Richard Amos BallReferences Edit Brown Kubisch Linda 2004 02 20 The Queen s Bush Settlement Black Pioneers 1839 1865 Dundurn p 169 ISBN 9781770704367 Prince Bryan 2015 01 10 My Brother s Keeper African Canadians and the American Civil War Dundurn p 70 ISBN 9781459705715 Davidson Christina 2021 An Organic Union Theorizing Race Nation and Imperialism within the Black Church Journal of African American History 577 600 Hawkins Chapel British Methodist Episcopal Church Park Row Community Chapel PDF City of Woodstock Retrieved 12 December 2018 Collingwood Collingwood Marks Black History Month Country 93 www country93 ca June 19 Jennifer Bieman Updated 19 June 2018 Congregation ousted from historic escaped slave church The London Free Press Shelley Cameron 29 February 2016 Old Methodist church embodies a lot of Guelph history TheRecord com Deans Dorothea Owen Sound B M E Church Monument to Pioneers Faith Altar of Present Coloured Folk PDF greyroots com Retrieved 12 December 2018 The doctrine and discipline of the British Methodist Episcopal Church of Canada revised and published by order of the General Conference held at North Buxton September 5th to 12th 1910 University of Toronto William Briggs Retrieved 12 December 2018 R Nathaniel Dett British Methodist Episcopal Church permanent dead link Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada R Nathaniel Dett British Methodist Episcopal Church National Register of Historic Places Salem Chapel British Methodist Episcopal Church Directory of Designations of National Historic Significance of Canada Salem Chapel British Methodist Episcopal Church National Register of Historic Places BME Christ Church St James Other BME Churches 2 October 2017 Archived from the original on 2 October 2017 Sources Edit Windsor Mosaic Dictionary of Canadian Biography Ontario Heritage Trust Salem Chapel British Methodist Episcopal Church Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Methodist Episcopal Church Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title British Methodist Episcopal Church amp oldid 1128250934, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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