The Centenary Story

The first known meeting house of Methodism in North America was a rigging loft on William Street in New York.  It was used for Class Meetings and was called Wesley Chapel.  The date of its establishment was 1766.  One hundred years later, in celebration of the introduction and permanent institution of Methodism on the continent, the Methodist congregation in Hamilton which would be consequently named ‘Centenary’ was founded, its “spacious and elegant edifice” being solemnly dedicated to the worship of God on May 18^th, 1868.

Settlers had first begun to congregate for religious services in the Hamilton area as early as 1801, when United Empire Loyalists arrived from the United States.  A pioneer named Richard Springer hosted religious services in his log cabin in the southeast of the settlement, in the area now known as Corktown, until 1824, when the ‘First Church’ was built at Wellington and Queen streets.

By 1839, Hamilton, home to about 3,000 souls, had four churches, ‘Christ’s Church’ for the Anglicans, a Park Street North church for the Roman Catholics, ‘St. Paul’s’ (then known as ‘St. Andrew’s’) for the Presbyterians, and ‘First’ for the Methodist Episcopalians..  But with no streetlights, and no sidewalks, clay streets and paths, with much mud in rough weather, and with the necessity to carry a lantern to evening services, by the late 1830's some of the members of First congregation began to talk of meeting in a more central location.  These were primarily later Methodist settlers from Great Britain, who were resented by the American colonists for their desire to make colonial life conform to British patterns.

Meetings consequently began in a building on Rebecca, near Catherine.  When it became too crowded, they moved into an abandoned Presbyterian building on John Street North, known as the White Church.  Outgrowing it also, in 1841 this congregation purchased property and built on the north-west corner of John and Rebecca streets, in six years finding it necessary to expand by building galleries and by adding to the main floor seating.  This was Wesley Church, otherwise known as the Brick Church, or the Second Church.

A more westerly church, to be known as the Stone Church, or the Third Church, was established, its cornerstone being laid in 1846, in a building at the corner of Merrick and MacNab streets.

Eight years later, in 1855, a mission was begun in the west end, that would expand into Zion Church on Pearl Street.  A religious work in the north end, known as the Bethel Mission, was then undertaken,  later becoming Simcoe Street Methodist, and later Grace United.

By 1860 life had changed dramatically.  The bush had been cleared.  The countryside had assumed a prosperous and settled appearance.  The fords had been bridge; the mud-holes filled in.  And the newer immigrants had intermarried and fused with the older, such that a generation had arisen conscious of its Canadian identity, and confident of its Canadian future.  And so came Confederation in 1867.  Between 1850 and 1860, the population of Hamilton had more than doubled, such that a decision was made to build a large church in keeping with the influence of the Methodist community.  Thus did Edward Jackson, the instigator and chief subscriber, along with notable others, undertake the construction of Centenary, the cornerstone being laid by his wife, Lydia Jackson, on May 28^th, 1866, compete with its enclosed tin box of historical artifacts.  Edward Jackson also established the first Chair of Divinity in Victoria University, which is now Emmanuel College, in Toronto.

On the occasion of the dedication of the Centenary Church building, Dr. Egerton Ryerson, preaching the evening service, remarked as follows: “Forty years ago, I was stationed as an assistant minister in this city, then an insignificant village.  The circuit extended from Stoney Creek to within five miles of Brantford.  At that time there were but 9,000 members of the Church in Upper Canada.  Now there are 59,000.  Then there were 59 ministers.  Now there are 612.  Then the old King Street Chapel was a marvel of church architecture, the best in the province.  Now there is Centenary.”

In 1879, Wesley Church would complete construction of a larger church on its same site.  And in the same year, Gore Street Methodist Episcopal Church would be built.  In 1880, the Women’s Missionary Society of the Canadian Methodist Church, was organized in Centenary Church by a group of 30 women drawn from the various Methodist churches in the city. Other auxiliaries quickly formed, resulting in the organization that embraced the whole of Canada, Newfoundland and Bermuda.  The first woman missionary sent out was Martha Cartmell of Centenary Church, who departed for Japan in November of 1882, and who founded what is now known as the Toyo Eiwa School for Girls in Tokyo.  Her efforts assisted in the revolutionizing of education for women in Japan, and she is revered to this day.  Students from Japan often make pilgrimage to Centenary.

In 1884, the congregation of the Primitive Methodists, begun in 1845, united with Gore Street, as the settlement of colonial issues and the absorption of British immigrants had made Methodist reunion inevitable.  In 1892, another mission of Wesley was opened on Barton Street East, the Star Mission, which would ultimately become Barton Street Methodist Church, and subsequently Livingston.  In its hey-day, under the leadership of the Rev. H.G.Livingston, it housed the largest Sunday School in Canada – 1800 children, accommodating 47 different nationalities in its fellowship.  Centenary was also active in founding missions, beginning Charlton Avenue Church, from which evolved Melrose United, and also the Crown Point Mission, from which would come Fairfield United. 

In 1909, Gore Street Church amalgamated with Wesley, the name being changed briefly to Central Methodist Church.  In 1910, Rev. Edwin Arthur Pearson was called to the Wesley pulpit, bringing with him his wife, Annie Sarah Bowles Pearson, and their three sons, Marmaduke, Lester and Vaughan.  Lester Bowles Pearson, then a teenager, was the future Prime Minister of Canada.

In a letter from Ottawa in 1968, to Centenary, on the occasion of the 100^th anniversary, he wrote of his “old and happy memories of Wesley Church and the parsonage at 137 Catherine North.”

Church Union in 1925 brought new members and renewed spirit to Centenary.  And a similar enrichment occurred when, on January 1, 1957, Wesley amalgamated with Centenary, the Wesley building becoming a recreational and youth centre in the heart of the city, and the first hostel for single men – ultimately Wesley Urban Ministries.  In 1964, a former Wesley Steward, Henry Gibson Eccles, bequeathed his entire estate for the support of students from Hamilton Conference studying for the ministry in Emmanuel College.  The trust fund is named in honour of his mother, the Emily Lucy Eccles Trust.

In 1999, Livingston United closed, depositing its artifacts with Centenary.  The present chapel in the northeast corner of the sanctuary serves to celebrate, in part, the Livingston ministry. And the St. David’s artifacts have recently been deposited with Centenary.

Most recently, Centenary took the step of becoming “an Affirming Church,” choosing to commit herself publicly to being “ a safe, diverse faith community, offering acceptance and hope.”  As a result, many persons who have felt unwelcome elsewhere have been finding community in Centenary .  In 2004, a tea room ministry was initiated, entitled ‘The Comfortable Pew,’ providing a point of entry for many persons seeking food for both body and soul.  At present, an online community has also developed, as others share in and support the Centenary ministry, by means of the Internet, from across the world.