Discover Ontario's history as told through its plaques

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The African Methodist Episcopal Church of Oro

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted July, 2009

Photo by contributor antefixus21 - Posted November, 2016

Plaque Location

The County of Simcoe
The Township of Oro-Medonte
On Old Barrie Road West
at 3 Line North, 4.4 km east of Highway 93

Coordinates: N 44 30.160 W 79 38.180

Click here for a larger map

Plaque Text

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.

Related Toronto plaque
African Methodist Episcopal Church

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Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

> Posted February 13, 2012
You can see in the windows. There isn't much inside. About 8 rustic pews and an altar. The Plaques are the most interesting part of the location since the building burned down and was rebuilt. Regards, Mark Thompson (great grandson of George Thompson)

> Posted August 3, 2010
I'm trying to find a family that lived on Con 2 Lot 40 but I can't find this family. It was the Overs family and we where told they were in the black settlement in Oro. But this site gives me some information but not lots. If anyone has any information on this family they can e-mail me . I'm trying to do a family tree. Your site is very nice and helps some. Thank you. Norma

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