Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church Plaque

Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church Plaque

Edgar, Ontario

Located at the intersection of the Old Barrie Road and 3rd line of Oro, 1 km west of Edgar, Ontario, this church is the last built remnant of an African Canadian community uniquely rooted in the history of the United Empire Loyalists. It was designated in 2000 and plaqued in 2003.

The inscription on the plaque reads as follows:

THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ORO
L’ÉGLISE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL D’ORO

Built in 1849, this church is the last vestige of one of the oldest African-Canadian settlements in Upper Canada Here at Oro, former members of the Loyalist militia from the War of 1812 established the only Black community sponsored by the government. Free Blacks from the northern United States later joined them. Located in the heart of a strategic and vulnerable region, the community guarded against an American invasion via Georgian Bay. This church is a testament to the contribution of African Canadians to the settlement and defence of Canada in the 19th century.

Érigée en 1849, cette église constitue le dernier vestige d’un des plus anciens établissements afro-canadiens du Haut-Canada. Seule implantation noire parrainée par le gouvernement, la communauté d’Oro débuta en 1819 avec l’arrivée d’anciens miliciens loyalistes de la Guerre de 1812, auxquels se joignirent ensuite des Noirs affranchis du nord des États-Unis. Situé au cœur d’une région stratégique, mais vulnérable, cet établissement devait prévenir une invasion américaine à partir de la baie Georgienne. Cette église symbolise la contribution des Afro-Canadiens au peuplement et à la défense du Canada au XIXe siècle.

Approved by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board, June 20, 2002
Approuvé par la Commission, le 20 juin 2002