Celebrating 150 years of Hagersville’s churches
Note: Hagersville United Church is celebrating the town’s 150th anniversary, and the historical impact of its churches over the years, through this oral history and an ecumenical service.
The first part of this church history was published in the October 9, 2025 edition.
The ecumenical service will be held Sunday, October 19 at 2 p.m. in Hagersville United Church.
By Rev. Peggy Bartlett
To The Haldimand Press
HAGERSVILLE—It was through faith that people found courage to begin again in a new land. It was in their churches that they gathered for strength, fellowship, and hope. Brick by brick and board by board, they built sanctuaries that not only reflected their heritage but also stood as beacons of God’s presence in their daily lives.
As we look back on the foundations laid by those who came before us, we also look forward with gratitude and hope. The churches remain central to the life of Hagersville, continuing to remind us that faith in God is not only our history – it is our future.
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church
Before there was a Roman Catholic church in Hagersville, members of that faith went to Mass at St. Anne’s Church in Walpole. They rented from a local livery conveyance known as “The Band Wagon.” The seats ran parallel in this wagon and it was drawn by a lightweight team of horses. At times, Mass was offered at the homes of Dan Lynch and William Dougherty on King Street in Hagersville.
In the early 1900s, some Italian Catholic families came to the village for employment at the JC Ingles Quarry, and for closeness to work, settled in the west end. Early history stated that Mr. Tony Dilello, who operated a small neighbourhood grocer on King Street West, had his daughter write a letter to the Pope Pius X stating that there was a need for a church in the village. Bishop Dowling of Hamilton had just celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood and his diocese had given him a purse of money. The Bishop donated $3,000 to a building fund and St. Mary’s was built in 1914 on King Street West, on the second lot past Sarah Street. The 200-seat church was dedicated in a ceremony on December 13, 1915.
The church burned down in 1957, and until the new one was built, services were held in the community centre. The new church was built on Main Street South. The land for this site had been acquired from Mr. Baldwin to have a Roman Catholic Church erected in the downtown area. The new church was completed and opened in April 1958, and blessed by the Most Reverend JF Ryan, Bishop of Hamilton, with many priests and parishioners in attendance.
Hagersville Pentecostal Church
In the 1930s, Reverend and Mrs. JH Blair conducted house meetings in Hagersville for Pentecostal members. In the summer of 1933, tent meetings were held in the village by Reverend Alfred Caustin. Quarters of more permanent nature were found upstairs in a building on Main Street North.
In 1935, a building on King Street East was purchased where Reverend Emerson Thompson, Miss Elsie Richardson, Reverend Charles Ratz, and Reverend Charles Forrest ministered. The property on the corner of Sherring and David Streets was purchased, and the church was dedicated on May 11, 1947. At this time, Reverend Ernest Peterson was the minister. The church flourished, and just three years later, the mortgage was burned.
Later, the congregation of the Hagersville Pentecostal Church held an official sod turning ceremony for their new proposed church on Sunday, March 3, 1991, which was constructed on the west side of Highway 6. On Sunday, September 8, 1999, the members of Hagersville Pentecostal Church held their dedication day service for their new building.
Hagersville Community Christian Reformed Church
The Hagersville Community Christian Reformed Church was formed out of members who previously attended the Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church of Jarvis; the congregation had grown so large it was necessary to have three services each Sunday. They purchased the former Pentecostal Tabernacle on the corner of Sherring Street North and David Street and held their first service there on August 4, 1991. The congregation of Hagersville Christian Reformed Church felt that it was important to have ‘community’ in their church name, so it was added in.
In 2023, the Christian Reformed Church sold their building and bought the former St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.
Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah’s Witnesses
The Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah’s Witnesses was built in Hagersville to serve the needs of the congregation and community after several years in Garnet. It became apparent from the growth of the area it was time to move to a larger building. This, like other tasks, took time to put in place. Finally, under the direction of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society Building Committee, plans were initiated for the building of the Kingdom Hall at 65 James Street, Hagersville. The first service was held the afternoon of September 11, 1983. After the completion of the Kingdom Hall, the dedication took place May 5, 1984.
The Assembly of Friends
The Assembly of Friends was an independent Baptist church. They started meeting in a rented room on Tuscarora Street in September 1992 under the leadership of Reverend Adolf Hahn and a board of directors. A while later, they could no longer rent the room, so they moved to the basement room of the Community Centre.
Rev. Hahn tried to retire once when he turned 65, but when his successor didn’t work out, the congregation asked him to lead again until Andrew Bunner became the next minister.
When the community centre was sold, Hagersville United Church offered their sanctuary as a place for the Assembly of Friends to worship on Sunday mornings.
When Andrew Bunner felt the call to Emmanuel Bible Church in Simcoe, they were unable to find a new minister and so worship was led by several guest speakers. In December 2024, a secret ballot was held to decide whether to continue as a congregation or to close. They disbanded at the end of January 2025, with quite a few of the members staying at Hagersville United Church and others going to various churches.
