Major Milestones in Our Church History
1780’s to 1850’s: Methodism comes to the Niagara Peninsula beginning with the Loyalist migration and grows and strengthens following the War of 1812 led by the Methodist Circuit Riders.
The Port Colborne Congregation and The Humberston Congregation
• 1858: The “Shiloh Chapel” Methodist Episcopal congregation began on Main St. in Stonebridge.
• 1859: The Shiloh Chapel congregation built their new church on the east side of Erie St. and by 1860 are known in the records as the ‘Stonebridge Congregation’ (Note: Originally, it was believed that this church was built in 1856.)
• 1874: The Wesleyan Methodists in the Union Chapel became part of ‘The Methodist Church of Canada.’
• 1878: The Canadian Methodists left the Union Chapel and built their own church on the south side of Clarence St.
• 1884: The Canadian Methodists on Clarence St. now have the same minister and are in the same charge as the Humberstone congregation on Erie St.
• 1884: The Erie St. Congregation joined with ‘The Methodist Church of Canada’ and now had the same minister and was in the “Humberstone Charge” along with the Port Colborne congregation
• 1894: The church on Clarence St. is sold to the Board of Education and began to be used as a primary school.
• 1894: The church on Erie St. was moved to the corner of Killaly and King Streets.
Central United Church of Port Colborne’s Congregation
• 1925: Church Union took place and the congregation then became ‘Central United Church’ at the southwest corner of Killaly and King Streets.
• 1928: A new ‘Central United Church’ was built at the corner of Delhi and Catharine Streets.
• 1955: A new Christian Education Wing was built.
• 1985: Much of Central United Church was destroyed by fire.
• 1987: A reconstructed ‘Central United Church’ was re-dedicated.
