Bible Christian Church
1853
Simple in structure and furnishings, this 1853 Chapel was built by a splinter group of Methodists known as Bible Christians. It is a simple wood frame structure with clapboard on the outside. The inside is quite plain, which was usual for Bible Christians.
It originally sat on Lot 24, Concession 5 in Whitevale, Pickering Township, but was moved to the William Major farm around 1890 after the Church closed. The box pulpit, wainscoting, and front doors are original. It was donated to the Museum in 1965 by descendants of the Major family. This building is a popular location for weddings and filming.
William O’Bryan founded the Bible Christian Church in 1815 in south-western England. The faith came to Upper Canada in the early 1830s. It was one of the most passionate of the Methodist sects. Its members followed a strict moral code that came from the teachings of the Bible. They stressed personal goodness, social justice, avoidance of alcohol, and hard work.
The Bible Christians were one of few churches that allowed women to preach and lead worship services in the 19th century. Like male preachers, female Bible Christian preachers would preach in their home community, or as itinerant preachers. Itinerant preachers travelled from town to town spreading the Bible’s message. Services could be anywhere, from a chapel or church to a barn or a field.
It is said that female preachers drew larger audiences than male preachers. Members of the public unfamiliar with the Bible Christian faith saw a female preacher as an oddity. Many believed that women should not lead church services. Some would attend services just to try to stop them. Women who preached faced much criticism.
We know of at least one woman who preached in Pickering Township. Her name was Mary (Nicholls) Green. She was born in Cornwall in 1803 and she was a preacher there before her marriage. She married Thomas Green on October 11, 1836. They immigrated to Canada around 1844 to preach at the Bible Christian Churches here. They came to Pickering sometime between 1859 and 1861. Mary Green lead services with her husband, and for him when he wasn’t able to be at a church. By 1871, Mary and Thomas were living in Grey Township, Huron County. Mary died in 1885.
Did You Know?
The chapel has been used in numerous television shows and movies. Check out the pictures below from when the chapel was used for Anne with an E, season 2, episode 10. In the second image you can see a bell tower was added to the church, and one of our other buildings, Miller-Cole house can also be seen in the background.
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The chapel is also available to rent for weddings, christenings, or services.