Lynn McDonald, Op/EdThe BridgeMarch 2025 They are still at it: more false accusations against Egerton Ryerson. A story I wrote for...
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Two groups of the Friends of Egerton Ryerson visited the church for its Sunday morning service, one on 4 May, Carolyn Edgar, Andrew Houser and Bruce Weber, then on 29 June Carolyn Edgar, Gord McNulty and me (Lynn McDonald).
The original chapel is still standing, a small, plain, typical Methodist chapel. Its original name was New Zion Wesleyan Methodist Church. The name changed in 1884 to Ancaster Methodist Church. It now houses a Montessori school. The old chapel and new church are side by side in downtown Ancaster, across the street from the Anglican church.
Ryerson himself served in Ancaster in 1824 as a circuit rider, then in 1828 as an ordained minister.
In 1925, the year that the Methodists, Presbyterians and Congregationalists joined together to form the United Church of Canada, the Ancaster church was given the name Ryerson United Church. A new, larger, building was opened and dedicated in 1960.
We were pleased to meet church members now in 2025 who are decidedly pro-Ryerson. When the Ryerson United Church in Hamilton dropped its Ryerson name they were asked if they would, too. They decided NO.
We were pleased to see the picture of Ryerson they had, from when he was minister there, and a well-researched history, by Norma Sheldrick, Ryerson’s Heritage: A History of Ryerson United Church, Ancaster Ontario 200 Years of Service 1808-2008.
Our mission is to advocate for and publicize an awareness and appreciation of the life and work of Egerton Ryerson, on the basis of scholarly research, and to restore and defend his reputation.
Public Events
We aim to restore the reputation of Egerton Ryerson against erroneous /slanderous claims. Projects are planned that will require funding, some little, some much more.
Videos of members speaking about who Egerton Ryerson was and debunking the myths.