Aylmer United Church celebrates 190th anniversary

As Canada prepares for its 150th anniversary next year, the Aylmer United Church is marking its 190th anniversary.

“A (faith) community that has existed for that long is unusual in Canada. It says something to the commitment of the people, going back to the first settlers in Aylmer who were originally Methodist,” Reverend Susan Butler-Jones told the Bulletin.

Previously responsible for the Bedeque North Pastoral Charge in P.E.I., Reverend Butler-Jones, with 38 years of United Church experience, came to Aylmer about a year and a half ago.

“We have people who are committed to living the Good Way of Life (in Aylmer), which is what our Aboriginal brothers and sisters are teaching us. The Good Way is healthy, supports one another, and looks after creation,” asserted Reverend Butler-Jones, who is not Aylmer United Church’s first female minister.

“The Seven Algonquian Grandfathers teachings are humility, honour, respect, courage, wisdom, truth, and love! These teachings enable us to live in harmony with ourselves, our neighbours and the created earth. It doesn’t matter what path we follow; as faithful people, we are called to these teachings,” noted Rev. Butler-Jones, who serves the Aylmer-Eardley Pastoral Charge.

This two-point pastoral charge includes the Aylmer United Church and the Centre Eardley United Church, which is the small white country church in Luskville on Highway 148. It was built by Methodists in 1877, 51 years after Methodists built their church in Aylmer.

According to Diane Aldred’s history book, Aylmer Quebec: Its Heritage, “the first Methodist Church in Hull Township was erected in 1826 on Aylmer Road where it stands just east of the Gatineau Golf Club.” Today, that building is occupied by the Aylmer Heritage Association, while parishioners gather in the church built in 1858. That church was constructed on a rue Principale lot sold to the church by Simon Heath for 10 pounds.

Methodists and the United Church

The reason why the United Church of Canada’s history is related to the the Methodists is because the Methodist Church of Canada, along with the Congregational Union of Ontario and Quebec, parts of the congregations of the Presbyterian Church and the Association of Local Union Churches merged in 1925 to form the United Church of Canada.

Roughly 12 years before the merger, the Aylmer United Church expanded their church to increase seating. “The original main entrance was walled in and moved to the base of a new square tower constructed on the northwest corner,” wrote Ms. Aldred.