Drayton Primitive Methodist Church
An article in the June 28, 1867 Elora Observer described a disastrous fire that leveled the Drayton Primitive Methodist Church and parsonage. This is the first mention of a Primitive Methodist Church in the village that I have found.
Minister Rev. C. Roffe and his wife were away from home when the fire occurred. Their daughters, at home when the fire started, escaped uninjured.
However in the short space of 35 minutes the fire reduced the building “to a heap of smouldering ruins.” Quick action of the neighbours prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
Mr. T. J. Owens and Mr. W. S. Hambly headed a committee to collect donations for the family and church. Others on the committee were Messrs. Perry, W. Sturtridge, J. Grose, T. Whale. J. Auger, J. Coxhead, C. Mitchell, J. Barkwell, C. Hannah, B. Jarrett, W. C. Scarr, J. Page and J. Morrill.
If a person had not been contacted by the committee they were advised to send their contribution to the Rev. C. Roffe, Drayton or Mr. J. Grose, the circuit steward, Goldstone.
Local histories have made no mention of fire destroying the Wesleyan Methodist Church that was located on Lot 240 from 1858 to 1892 (now the site of the Drayton Christian Reformed Church.)
A search of the land records for Drayton reveal that in 1865 a deed for Lots 228 and 229 on Main Street was given to William Sturtridge, Thomas Whale, Samuel Auger, Jonas Coxhead and John Grose, Trustees of the Methodist Church.
In 1871 the title for those two lots was registered in the name of Daniel Smith. In 1878 Lot 229 was purchased by Fredrick Schwendeman who operated a lumber yard and sash factory on Lots 230 and 231.
In 1884 Dr. Robert McWilliam purchased the west 56 feet of Lot 228, as well as Lot 227, and built the white brick duplex for his home and office.
This duplex is now two residential units.
History records Ebenezer Primitive Church at Goldstone was first a log building built by John Grose on land donated by Reuben Hambly, and that in 1867 a white brick church was built to replace it.
There were other Primitive Methodist Churches in Peel and Maryborough. Shiloh on the 8th of Peel, Mount Hope on the 16th of Peel, Sharon on the 3rd of Maryborough, and Hustonville on the 8th of Maryborough were all part of the Peel Circuit.
The circuit was managed by an itinerant minister and local preachers including Mrs. Caesar Coxhead, Richard Amy, Richard Auger, Eli Goodwin, C. W. Hammond, W. C. Scarr, James Whale, John Grose, Joseph Grose and William Grose.
All this poses many questions and not many answers. The church and parsonage would appear to have been one wooden building that was not rebuilt.
The men on the benevolent committee were prominent citizens of the community. No doubt the community was generous. Did the Drayton and Goldstone congregations unite or the members join other congregations closest to their homes? Probably moot questions as by 1900 the Primitive and Wesleyan Methodist had all united under the Wesleyan banner.
Submitted by Jean Campbell
