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Ryerson United Church, Ancaster

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.

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Friends of Egerton Ryerson

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.

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Friends of Egerton Ryerson
Public Events
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Interested in donating?

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.

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Friends of Egerton Ryerson Videos

Videos of members speaking about who Egerton Ryerson was and debunking the myths.

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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. For example, a full-page ad in the Toronto Star is approx $5,000-7,000, and the Globe and Mail at 30,000. Half pages for both somewhat less but not as effective. Public events with zoom connections, to present the real Egerton Ryerson are under consideration and would require more modest funding, open meetings, podcast, and, webinar.
Interested in helping? Click here.

Ryerson Statue

Did You Know?

That Ryerson had NO connection with the harmful system, brought in after his death, but instead supported the voluntary, bilingual (Ojibway and English) schools that Indigenous leaders themselves wanted. They (and he) wanted better economic opportunities for Indigenous people and the ability to communicate with government officials and settlers. Bilingual schools made sense.
Indigenous people were at a low ebb when Ryerson went to live with the Missisaugas of the Credit in 1826. They had lost most of their land, their numbers were down (the Ojibway had lost 60% of their people) and alcohol had become a serious problem. Ryerson helped them with economic development. He had been a “farm boy” and taught them sustainable farming and carpentry he had learned at home.

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Email to Dr. Pine

Dear Dr Pine, I am writing with concern over the numerous errors in your chapter “Now That We Know” in Indigenous Toronto,...

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