Hagersville United Church celebrates 150 years

By Peggy Bartlett, Minister of Hagersville United Church

To The Haldimand Press

HAGERSVILLE—More than 150 years ago our forefathers, the pioneers of this great land, worked through difficulties and extreme hardships to build their communities. Being God-fearing people who were scattered over wide areas of untamed forest and wilderness, they centred their activities around community churches.

These churches were built by building “bees”; groups of men and women working free gratis for one common cause. One or two churches were built in the community at the same time, depending on the extremes of doctrines within that area.

Before Hagersville Methodist Church was built, the First Methodist Church meetings were held in a little log schoolhouse, which was situated about halfway between Hagersville and the now-extinct Ballsville.

The church circa late 1800s