2018-101 Designate the Oro-African Episcopal Methodist Church under the Ontario Heritage Act.The Corporation of the Township of Oro-Medonte
By-law No. 2018-101
A By-law to Designate the Oro -African Episcopal Methodist Church under the
Ontario Heritage Act.
Whereas Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. 0.18, as amended,
authorizes the Council of a Municipality to enact a by-law to designate real property
including all buildings and structures thereon, to be of cultural heritage value or
interest;
And Whereas the Oro -African Episcopal Methodist Church, municipally known as
1645 Line 3 N., has been identified by the Township of Oro-Medonte Municipal
Heritage Committee as being eligible for designation under Part IV of the Ontario
Heritage Act
And Whereas Notice of Intention to pass a Designation By-law was given in
accordance with Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act,
And Whereas no Notice of Objection to the proposed designation has been served on
the Clerk of the Town;
And Whereas this By-law is to be registered in the proper Land Registry Office with
respect to the property described in Schedule "A" attached hereto;
And Whereas the Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest is set out in
Schedule `B" attached hereto;
And Whereas the Description of Heritage Attributes set out in Schedule "C" attached
hereto;
Now Therefore the Council of the Township of Oro-Medonte hereby enacts as
follows:
Oro -African Episcopal Methodist Church, municipally known as 1645 Line 3 N. and
more particularly described in Schedule "A", be designated as a structure of
significant cultural heritage value and interest as described in Schedule `B".
2. The heritage attributes described in Schedule "C" form part of this By-law.
3. The Clerk is hereby authorized to cause a copy of this By-law together with its
schedules to be registered against the property in the Land Registrar's Office and
shall serve a copy of the By-law together with its schedules upon the property
owner and the Ontario Heritage Trust.
4. The By-law shall take full force and effect on the final date of passage hereof.
By-law read a First, Second and Third time, and Passed this 14th day of
November, 2018.
The Corporation of the Township of Oro-Medonte
Schedule "A"
to By-law No. 2018-101 for
The Corporation of the Township of Oro-Medonte
Legal Property Description
Physical address: 1645 LINE 3 N., ORO-MEDONTE, ON LOL 21-0
Legal description: ORO CON 4 PT LOT 11 RP
Roll No. 4346-010-002-09700-0000
Schedule "B"
to By-law No. 2018-101 for
The Corporation of the Township of Oro-Medonte
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value
Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church is located at the southeast corner of the
intersection of Line 3 North and Old Barrie Road West. This modest church,
constructed of hand -hew logs, and is the last built remnant of a community of early
African Canadians settlers in Simcoe County. The British government granted 25
plots to Black settlers in Oro Township from 1819-1826. By 1831, thirty more families
joined the settlement and the church construction was completed by 1849. The
Church was active until 1900 when the community faded away and was declared
abandoned in 1916. It was designated a National Historic Site in 2000.
An unmarked cemetery is also located on the property. A stone cairn displays
plaques commemorating the history of the former church, including the Historic Sites
and Monuments Board of Canada plaque and a stone tablet engraved with the
names of the families buried in the cemetery.
Schedule "C"
to By-law No. 2018-101 for
The Corporation of the Township of Oro-Medonte
Heritage Attributes
Exterior of the Church:
• Location at the intersection of Line 3 North and Old Barrie Road West
• Rectangular footprint
• One-story, medium -pitched gable roof massing
• Modest and undecorated fagade with a central entrance
• Unpainted wood clapboard cladding
• Cedar (or wood) shingle roof
• 12/12 double -hung wood windows (with shutters)
• Brick chimney
• Stone cairn
• Grassed landscaping, tall grass and trees
Interior of the Church:
• Open space and rectangular plan
• Hand-hewn log construction/structure
• Wainscoting/wood-paneling located on all four interior walls
• Any markings/notations left behind by the builders and restoration members/workers