Residents in North Buxton are in the middle what they're calling a "David and Goliath battle" in order to maintain control of an historic church, hall, and cemetery in their community.
Historian and Cemetery Board member Bryan Prince says officials with the British Methodist Episcopal (BME) Church of Canada have informed the congregation of North Buxton Community Church that they need to vacate the premises of the church building and the hall they have been using for decades. Under the same order, the community needs to hand over control of the North Buxton cemetery to the BME Church.
Church building and hall in North Buxton on A D Shadd Rd. June 19, 2019. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent).
Prince says it's heartbreaking for the congregation in North Buxton, which has roots going back to the first settlers of the area, many of whom were slaves and the children of slaves.
The congregation broke away from the BME Church in 2003 to become an independent church, but now BME Church officials -- based in Toronto -- are telling the local congregants in Buxton they need move out by the end of June. He says the BME Church's legal ownership of the buildings and the property goes back to a conference that took place in 1913.
"Lawyers have advised us that we do not have legal ownership," says Prince. "So, according to the letter of the law, we can't win this fight, but we still feel this is wrong -- how can this be?"
A number of other unanswered questions remain for the community, including what the BME Church's plans are for the facilities.
"We were told they have an 'alternate use' for the church," says Prince. "It's hard to imagine that any other congregation would be interested in coming out to this little village other than the congregation that is here already -- and I can't imagine that it's an attractive property for sale."
Church building and hall in North Buxton on A D Shadd Rd. June 19, 2019. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent).
It's also not clear who will be operating the cemetery, which is, according to Prince, the final resting place of the first settlers of Buxton and their descendants, as well as the already-chosen final resting place for many current residents of Buxton and their extended families.
"Now, when families suffer a death in their family, instead of calling us, who are just down the road and always here, will they have to call someone in Toronto to come down and meet them and show them where their family plot is?" asks Prince, adding the whole situation is like "a bad dream."
The congregation is planning to hold one final worship service at the church building at 11am on Sunday. That's expected to be a "special occasion" as the community reflects on the many personal experiences that members of the church have had there including christenings, marriages, funerals, and spiritual awakenings.
The temporary plan moving forward is to hold future services at a picnic shelter next door to the church or at the Buxton Museum.
Prince says they are still holding out hope that officials with the BME Church will change their minds.
"We're getting a lot of support from a whole lot of places," says Prince. "Perhaps that can appeal to the hearts of [BME Church officials]."
Church building and hall in North Buxton on A D Shadd Rd. June 19, 2019. (Photo by Sarah Cowan Blackburn News Chatham-Kent).