The Annual Pilgrimage Service at Old Hay Bay Church is going outdoors.
Weather permitting, this year’s service will be held on the east lawn of the church for a traditional Methodist style camp meeting.
Custodians will be on hand to show the history of the Methodist religion, the United Empire Loyalists who established homes and farms in the area and general local history.
The church was built just eight years after Loyalists arrived in the area.
It is Canada’s oldest surviving Methodist Church, built on farmland belonging to Paul Huff just eight years after the Loyalists arrived.
It was the first “meeting house” in Upper Canada.
Chair of the Board of Trustees Elaine Farley tells Quinte News they all came together to help build it.
“Come from mixed cultures, mixed religions, but they came together under the Methodist Church umbrella and built what was at the time a very large structure.”
Farley added, “They closed Hay Bay. It was sold, became a barn. Sold to the local farmer.
It wasn’t until 1910 when the Methodist Church of Canada was actually able to buy it back from them, realizing that it was a significant historical sight, a very special sight that many, many people had travelled to, not only their ancestors but people kept coming to the church even when it was a barn to see it. And when the board in the early 1920s decided to have a service they called it a pilgrimage service because so many of the descendants came back.”
It wasn’t until 1910 when the Methodist Church of Canada was actually able to buy it back from them, realizing that it was a significant historical sight, a very special sight that many, many people had travelled to, not only their ancestors but people kept coming to the church even when it was a barn to see it. And when the board in the early 1920s decided to have a service they called it a pilgrimage service because so many of the descendants came back.”
“We had it outside last year because of the COVID restrictions but there were so many people said what a wonderful experience that was to visit the church and then have the service outside.”
She explained, “We are now working on some of the interior upgrades. We have cabinets, display cabinets, being made this summer to go at the back of the church so we can better secure some of our artifacts and put them out for people. We’re looking at having a new fence put around the cemetery. We did some improvements in the cottage while it was closed, because that was the easiest time”
The annual service will be held Sunday August 28, 3 p.m., on the east lawn of the church, weather permitting.
The guest speaker is Dr. Rev. William (Bill) Smith and the service will be led by Rev. Phil Hobbs.
Additional information is available on the website www.oldhaybaychurch.ca , or by calling 613.373.9759.
