Canada – Ontario

From BrethrenPedia

Plymouth Brethren History in North America

---

Contents 1 Ontario 1.1 Arkona 1.2 Bancroft 1.3 Barrie 1.4 Brantford 1.5 Cambridge 1.6 Guelph 1.7 Hamilton 1.8 Kitchener 1.9 London 1.10 Matheson 1.11 Niagara Falls 1.12 Oakville 1.13 Orillia 1.14 Ottawa 1.15 Pembroke 1.16 Peterborough 1.17 Sault Ste. Marie 1.18 St. Catharines 1.19 Thunder Bay 1.20 Toronto 1.21 Waterloo 1.22 Windsor 1.23 Other Ontario Assemblies 2 Assemblies Part of Ontario History 3 Author 4 Resources

Since the first work in Ontario was at Parkhill and Forest, towns near the southern end of Lake Huron, we shall start there, then continue in the southwestern part of the province, proceed northeastward to Ottawa, then turn west and work our way through the northern reaches of Ontario.

The first brethren preacher who came to Ontario (in 1845) was Joseph M. Scriven, who wrote the much-loved hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” His grave can be seen at Bewdley, a village near Port Hope on Lake Ontario. Since his biographers write that he was connected with the Plymouth Brethren in Woodstock and then in Port Hope, much earlier than the Open Brethren assemblies are purported to have started around the early 1870's, it is suggested that Scriven may have been connected with the Exclusive Brethren.

NOTE: According to calculations derived from J.J. Rouse, Munro did not come in 1871, but 1874 or 1875. If indeed he wrote his autobiography, Pioneer Work in Canada Practically Presented in 1935, J.J. Rouse has Douglas Russell coming to Canada around 1870. Then four years later, Munro comes to Canada. He claims to have received his information from T.D.W. Muir. Possibly, this portion of the book was written a few years before it was published, thus in agreement with the year of Munro's coming to Canada. But if this is the case, he may have been in error regarding Douglas Russell coming to Canada in 1870. Some articles in this Wiki agree that Douglas Russell did indeed come over in 1870 as reported by J.J. Rouse. However, these same articles indicate that Douglas Russell helped in assembly planting, which does not seem to agree with J.J. Rouse.

When the Dominion of Canada was only four years old, a small groups of believers began meeting to practice the principles taught in the Word of God. When Donald Munro first came to Ontario from Scotland in 1871, he visited his brothers in Parkhill and Forest, towns near the southern end of Lake Huron. A hall was rented in Parkhill and Mr. Munro preached the Gospel with blessing. His brother and sister-in-law were among those saved. From there he preached in Forest before returning to Scotland. When he returned to Canada in 1872 to stay, having learned of believer’s baptism, he taught that and other New Testament truths.

At Parkhill, God worked further in the salvation of souls. A good number of believers gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus at Parkhill that year, 1872. The Parkhill Assembly was the first 'open' brethren assembly in Canada.[1] The following year, Gospel meetings were held again at Forest, and the Forest Assembly, ON was formed in that town.

[edit] Ontario

[edit] Arkona

Arkona Bible Chapel, ON

Elim Bible Chapel, Arkona, ON

Elim Gospel Hall, Arkona, ON

Maranatha Bible Fellowship, Arkona, ON

[edit] Bancroft

Bancroft Bible Chapel, ON

Bancroft Gospel Hall, ON

Lakeview Gospel Hall, Bancroft, ON

The Bridge Community Church, Bancroft, ON

[edit] Barrie

Cornerstone Community Church, Barrie, ON

Grace Gospel Hall, Barrie, ON

Northside Bible Chapel, Barrie, ON

Northside Gospel Chapel, Barrie, ON

Parkside Drive Gospel Hall, Barrie, ON

[edit] Brantford

Bethel Park Bible Chapel, Brantford, ON

Fairview Gospel Hall, Brantford, ON (Needed Truth)

[edit] Cambridge

Cambridge Community Church, ON

Clyde Assembly, ON

Eagle Street Christian Fellowship, Cambridge, ON (was Eagle Street Gospel Hall, Preston, ON)

Taylorite Exclusive Gospel Hall, Galt, ON

Westside Bible Chapel, Galt, ON

[edit] Guelph

Arkell Road Bible Chapel, Guelph, ON

Eramosa Road Gospel Hall, Guelph, ON

Grace Community Church, Guelph, ON

Guelph Bible Chapel, Guelph, ON

Lakeside Bible Church, Guelph, ON

Willowdale Christian Fellowship, Guelph, ON

Yorkshire Street Gospel Hall, Guelph, ON

[edit] Hamilton

Bethany Gospel Hall, Hamilton, ON

Kensington Avenue Gospel Hall, Hamilton, ON

McNab Street Gospel Hall, Hamilton, ON

Queensdale Bible Chapel, Hamilton, ON

Queensdale Gospel Chapel, Hamilton, ON

Queensdale Gospel Hall, Hamilton, ON

Sheldon Gospel Hall, Hamilton, ON (Needed Truth)

Stone Ridge Bible Chapel, Hamilton, ON

West Fifth Bible Chapel, Hamilton, ON

[edit] Kitchener

Central Community Church, Kitchener, ON

Forestview Bible Church, Kitchener, ON

Highview Community Church, Kitchener, ON

Kitchener Gospel Hall, ON

[edit] London

Bethel Chapel, London, ON

Byron Community Chapel, London, ON

Edward Street Chapel, London, ON

Emery & Edward St. Gospel Hall, London, ON

Emery Street Gospel Hall, London, ON

Hamilton Road Chapel, London, ON

Highbury Avenue Gospel Hall, London, ON

North Park Community Church, London, ON

Southdale Bible Chapel, London, ON

[edit] Matheson

4th Avenue Gospel Hall, Matheson, ON

7th Avenue Gospel Chapel, Matheson, ON

Matheson Gospel Chapel, ON

[edit] Niagara Falls

Oakwood Gospel Hall, Niagara Falls, ON

Willmott Street Gospel Hall, Niagara Falls, ON

[edit] Oakville

Hopedale Bible Chapel, Oakville, ON

Oak Ridge Bible Chapel, Oakville, ON

[edit] Orillia

Dominion Gospel Hall, Orillia, ON

Hillside Bible Chapel, Orillia, ON

Orillia Assembly, ON

Orillia Community Church, ON

Simcoeside Bible Chapel, Orillia, ON

West Street Gospel Chapel, Orillia, ON

West Street Gospel Hall, Orillia, ON

[edit] Ottawa

Bridlewood Bible Chapel, Kanata, ON

Castle Heights Assembly, Ottawa, ON

Clarey Avenue Chapel, Ottawa, ON

Rideauview Bible Chapel, Ottawa, ON

Gospel Hall, Ottawa, ON

Pine Grove Bible Church, Gloucester, ON

[edit] Pembroke

Pembroke Bible Chapel, Pembroke, ON

[edit] Peterborough

Auburn Bible Chapel, Peterborough, ON

Braidwood Bible Chapel, Peterborough, ON

McDonnel Street Gospel Hall, Peterborough, ON

Edmison Heights Bible Chapel, Peterborough, ON

Park Street Gospel Hall, Peterborough, ON

Westmount Bible Chapel, Peterborough, ON

[edit] Sault Ste. Marie

Albert Street Gospel Hall, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Believers Bible Chapel, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Bethel Bible Chapel, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Heyden Bible Chapel, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Murray Street Gospel Hall, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Sault Ste. Marie Gospel Hall, ON

Spring Street Gospel Hall, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Queen Street Bible Chapel, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Riverside Bible Chapel, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

[edit] St. Catharines

Brockview Bible Chapel, St. Catharines, ON

Pelham Road Gospel Hall, St. Catharines, ON

Queenston Street Gospel Hall, St. Catharines, ON

Scottlea Gospel Chapel, St. Catharines, ON

[edit] Thunder Bay

Farrand Street Bible Chapel, Thunder Bay, ON

Gospel Hall Assembly, Thunder Bay, ON

Pine Street Gospel Hall, Thunder Bay, ON

Thunder Bay Gospel Hall, ON

Westmount Gospel Chapel, Thunder Bay, ON

[edit] Toronto

Ascot Assembly, Toronto, ON

Bedford Park Bible Chapel, Toronto, ON

Bendale Bible Chapel, Toronto, ON

Bethany Chapel, Yorkdale, ON

Beulah Hall, Toronto, ON

Bridlegrove Bible Chapel, Toronto, ON

Broadview Avenue Gospel Hall, Toronto

Brock Avenue Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Brock Street Temperance Hall, Toronto, ON

Central Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Christians, Toronto, ON

Danforth Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Don Valley Bible Chapel, Willowdale, ON

East-end Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Eglinton Avenue Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Elizabeth Street Hall, Toronto, ON

Fairbanks Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Farley Avenue Hall, Toronto, ON

Forestbrook Bible Chapel, Pickering, ON

Gilead Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Grace and Truth Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Greenwood Gospel Chapel, Toronto, ON

Highfield Road Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Hilltop Chapel, Toronto, ON

Langstaff Gospel Hall, Thornhill, ON

Lansing Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Leaside Bible Chapel, Toronto, ON

Mimico Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Olivet Assembly, Toronto, ON

Pape Avenue Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Rexdale Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Toronto Sanctuary, ON

Unionville Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Victoria Park Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

West Hill Gospel Hall, Toronto, ON

Westmount Gospel Chapel, Weston, ON

West Moreland Assembly, Toronto, ON

Willowdale Christian Assembly, Toronto, ON

[edit] Waterloo

Bethel Chapel, Waterloo, ON

Heidelburg Bible Fellowship, Heidelburg, ON

Lakeshore Bible Chapel, Waterloo, ON

New Hope Community Church, Waterloo, ON

[edit] Windsor

Berean Bible Chapel, Windsor, ON

Gospel Hall – 644 Partington Avenue, Windsor, ON

Grace & Truth Gospel Hall, Windsor, ON

Middle Eastern Bible Fellowship (Arabic), Windsor, ON

Oakwood Bible Chapel, Windsor, ON

Partington Road Gospel Hall, Windsor, ON

Turner Road Chapel, Windsor, ON

Turner Road Gospel Chapel, Windsor, ON

Turner Road Gospel Hall, Windsor, ON

Windsor Gospel Hall, ON

[edit] Other Ontario Assemblies

Albert Street Gospel Hall, Oshawa, ON

Alder Street Gospel Hall, Sudbury, ON

Alma Bible Church, ON

Arnstein Gospel Hall, ON

Assemblee Chretienne Evangelique, Baie Comeau, ON

Beechmount Gospel Hall, ON

Bendale Bible Chapel, Scarborough, ON

Bethany Chapel, Winchester, ON

Bethel Bible Chapel, Shelburne, ON

Bethel Gospel Chapel, North Bay, ON

Bethel Gospel Chapel, New Liskeard, ON

Bethel Gospel Hall, Arnprior, ON

Bethel Gospel Hall, North Bay, ON

Bible Fellowship Assembly, South Porcupine, ON

Bolton Gospel Hall, Bolton, ON

Boulter Gospel Chapel, ON

Bramalea Bible Chapel, Brampton, ON

Brampton Bible Chapel, ON

Bruce Mines Bible Centre, ON

Burgessville Gospel Hall, ON

Burk’s Falls Gospel Chapel, ON

Burlington Gospel Hall, ON

Campbellford Gospel Hall, ON

Chapman Valley Gospel Hall, Sundridge, ON

Charlton Assembly, ON

Charlton Gospel Hall, ON

Chesley Bible Chapel, ON

Clover Valley Gospel Hall, Manitowaning, ON

Cochrane Gospel Chapel, ON

Collingwood Gospel Hall, ON

Community Bible Chapel, Chapleau, ON

Community Bible Church, Granton, ON

Community Bible Church, Illderton, ON

Community Bible Church, Lucan, ON

Cornerstone Bible Fellowship, Atwood, ON

Cornerstone Bible Fellowship, Ethel, ON

Deacon Gospel Chapel, ON

Deacon Gospel Hall, ON

Deer Lake Gospel Hall, ON

Deseronto Gospel Hall, ON

Devine Street Gospel Chapel, Sarnia, ON

Don Valley Bible Chapel, Willowdale, ON

Dunchurch Gospel Chapel, ON

Earlton Gospel Hall, ON

Eden Grove Gospel Hall, ON

Elk Lake Bible Chapel, ON

Elliot Lake Bible Chapel, ON

Elmira Assembly, ON

Elmira Christian Fellowship, ON

Elmvale Community Church, ON

Elmwood Bible Chapel, Renfrew, ON

Elmwood Gospel Chapel, Renfrew, ON

Embro Gospel Hall, ON

Emmanuel Gospel Chapel, Pembroke, ON

Englehart Gospel Hall, ON

Erindale Bible Chapel, Mississauga, ON

Espanola Bible Fellowship, Chelmsford, ON

Faith Bible Chapel, Simcoe, ON

Forest Assembly, ON

Forest Brook Bible Chapel, Pickering, ON

Forest Gospel Hall, ON

Forestview Bible Chapel, Burlington, ON

Foxmead Assembly, ON

Galt Assembly, ON

Gatchell Gospel Hall, ON

Gooderham Assembly, ON

Gore Bay Gospel Hall, ON

Gorrie Bible Fellowship, Gorrie, ON

Grace Bible Chapel, Parkhill, ON

Grace Bible Chapel, Stirling, ON

Grace Bible Chapel, Timmins, ON

Grace Chapel, Timmins, ON

Grand Bend Gospel Hall, ON

Graphite Bible Chapel, ON

Graphite Gospel Hall, ON

Gwillimbury Bible Fellowship, Holland Landing, ON

Hackley Valley Bible, Orangeville, ON

Haileybury Gospel Hall, ON

Hanover Bible Chapel, ON

Harrow Assembly, ON

Hartsmere Assembly, ON

Harvey Assembly, ON

Hastings Park Bible Church, Belleville, ON

Hawkesville Bible Chapel, ON

Hawkesville Gospel Hall, ON

Hawkesville Gospel Mission, ON

Hopevale Bible Chapel, Oakville, ON

Huntsville Gospel Hall, ON

Hybla Gospel Tabernacle, ON

Iroquois Falls Gospel Chapel, ON

Island Bible Chapel, Richards Landing, ON

Joseph Street Gospel Hall, Clinton, ON

Kapuskasing Gospel Hall, ON

Kenora Gospel Hall, ON

Kintore Bible Chapel, Thamesford, ON

Kirkland Lake Bible Chapel, ON

Kirkland Lake Gospel Chapel, ON

Kirkland Lake Gospel Hall, ON

L'Assemblee Chretienne de Hearst, Hearst, ON

Lakefield Gospel Chapel, ON

Lake Shore Gospel Hall, ON

Lakeview Assembly, ON

Lakeview Gospel Hall, ON

Larchwood Bible Chapel, Dowling, ON

Lindsay Gospel Hall, ON

Linwood Assembly, ON

Little Carlow Assembly, ON

Listowel Bible Chapel, Listowel, Ontario

L’Amable Bible Chapel, ON

Lorne Avenue Bible Chapel, Trenton, ON

Maberly Gospel Hall, ON

Malton Bible Chapel, ON

Markham Bible Chapel, ON

Markham Gospel Chapel, ON

Massey Bible Chapel, ON

Midland Gospel Hall, ON

Milton Gospel Hall, ON

Mitchell Bible Chapel, ON

Mitchell Gospel Hall, ON

Monteith Gospel Hall, ON

Montrock Gospel Hall, ON

Nelson Street Chapel, Simcoe, ON

Newbury Gospel Hall, ON

New Carlow Assembly, ON

New Liskeard Gospel Hall, ON

Newmarket Gospel Hall, ON

Northland Bible Chapel, Goulais River, ON

Norwich Gospel Trailer, ON

Nipissing Junction Gospel Hall, North Bay, ON

Oil Springs Gospel Hall, ON

Osgoode Bible Chapel, ON

Osgoode Gospel Hall, ON

Owen Sound Gospel Hall, ON

Parkhill Assembly, ON

Parry Sound Gospel Hall, ON

Pickering Bible Chapel, ON

Picton Gospel Hall, ON

Pine Ridge Bible Chapel, Oshawa, ON

Pinewoods Gospel Chapel, Angus, ON

Port Hope Christian Assembly, ON

Port Hope Gospel Hall, ON

Port Sydney Bible Chapel, ON

Portal Village Bible Chapel, Port Colborne, ON

Quinte Bible Chapel, Frankford, ON

Richvale Bible Chapel, Richmond Hill, ON

Richvale Gospel Church, Richmond Hill, ON

Ridgeville Bible Chapel, ON

River Drive Park Bible Chapel, Newmarket, ON

Rossland Ridge Bible Chapel, Ajax, ON

Saint Mary's Gospel Hall, ON

Saint Thomas Gospel Hall, ON

Sarnia Assembly, ON

Sarnia Gospel Hall, ON

Severn Bridge Christian Assembly, ON

Severn Bridge Gospel Hall, ON

Shoreacres Bible Chapel, Burlington, ON

Simcoe Gospel Chapel, ON

Sioux Lookout Gospel Hall, ON

South Middleton Assembly, Straffordville, ON

South River Christian Assembly, ON

South River Gospel Hall, ON

Springbrook Bible Chapel, ON

Straffordville Gospel Hall, ON

Strongville Gospel Hall, ON

Sudbury Bible Fellowship, ON

Tavistock Bible Chapel, ON

Thessalon Bible Chapel, ON

Thorold South Gospel Chapel, ON

Tillsonburg Bible Chapel, ON

Tillsonburg Gospel Hall, ON

Timmins Gospel Hall, ON

Union Street Gospel Chapel, Kingston, ON

Valens Assembly, ON

Valens Gospel Hall, ON

Vasey Assembly, ON

Victoria Road Gospel Hall, ON

Wallaceburg Gospel Hall, ON

Wallenstein Bible Chapel, ON

Warminster Assembly, ON

Waubaushene Gospel Hall, ON

Waverley Gospel Hall, ON

Welland Assembly, ON

Welland Gospel Hall, ON

West Guilford Gospel Chapel, Haliburton, ON

Westside Bible Chapel, Cambridge, ON

Wingham Bible Chapel, ON

Wingham Gospel Hall, ON

Woodside Bible Fellowship, Elmira, ON

[edit] Assemblies Part of Ontario History

The first in North America may have been in Key West, Florida, starting in 1869.

Central Gospel Hall, Detroit, MI

Taylorside Assembly, SK

Hartford Gospel Hall, CT

[edit] Author

Robert L. Peterson

Dan H. Smith, Ed.D. President, Emmaus Bible College

[edit] Resources

Questionnaire responses and other correspondence

The 75th Anniversary of The Windsor Assembly, 1916 to 1991

Excerpts from a History of the Brethren Movement, by Norman E. Crawford

Sketch of the History of Bethel Gospel Chapel North Bay, Ontario, 1997; based on book to be published in 1999: When Your Children Ask, by Donald E. Carney

The History of the Barrie Ontario Assemblies, by H. Bruce Hicks

Brief History of Early Assembly Work in North America, by Norman Crawford, 1999

Until He Comes, A History of the Spring St. Assembly, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, 1899-1997, by Wayne and Heather Rodgers

History of the Lansing Assembly, by Hubert Lucas, Sr., 1973

Reflections of Turner Road Chapel, 1930-1990

In His Name, by John S. Robertson, March 1960 (a history of Toronto Assemblies)

A Kernel of Wheat, by Chester Donaldson, 1982, updated 1994

A Grain of Mustard Seed, The Story of Bible Fellowship Assembly, by Chester Donaldson,1983

Deer Lake Gospel Hall, by Bert French, 1997

The Growth of God’s Assembly, Planted in Welland, by Lorne Yade, 1985

Saved to Serve, by John M. Martin, Gospel Folio Press, Grand Rapids, MI 1994

Wallenstein Bible Chapel, The first thirty years, 1968-1998, by Albert Martin, 1998

Englehart, 1933-1993, 60 Years of Memories of an Assembly and its People, by P. Wood, 1993

History of Christians Gathered Unto the name of the Lord Jesus Christ at Strongville, Ontario, by Mrs. William Williams and others, 1990.

A Record of Gospel Testimony in Northern Ontario, by Bethuel Carr, 1979

Graphite Bible Chapel, by Doug Robinson, undated

Waverley Gospel Hall, undated

Let The Tide Come In, by C. Ernest Tatham, 1976

Shoreacres Bible Chapel, 1959 - 1994, 35th Anniversary Reunion

When Your Children Ask, a History of Bethel Gospel Chapel North, Ontario, by Donald E. Carney, 1999; published by Donald E. Carney

The Brethren Movement in North Hastings 1885 - 1924 (A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Historical Theology, Dallas Theological Seminary), by Robert Garry Jenkins, May 1986.

History of Bancroft Area Assemblies, Garry Jenkins, unpublished, 1986.

Letters of Interest, August/September 1955, p. 14; October 1955, p. 15; January 1959, p. 7; December 1966, p. 8; June 1969, p. 14; September 1975, p. 20