Marshville Heritage Society's Heritage preservation

Originally , this small, white church was surrounded by a white picket fence. A wooden frame building with a double door entry hung on by black hinges. Behind the church was a drive shed for the horses and buggies.

The upstairs hall of the church seved as a meeting place for many locals and groups such as the Orange Lodge #509 (Sand Hill), the Choral Society, and the Literary Society.

The Literary Society was very active in the early 1900s. They produced their own plays, gave readings and recitations, and presented musicals. Their contribution was quite important to the community as it included many in both the group and with its’ provision of entertainment.

HISTORY

The Forkes Road West Methodist Church was constructed in approximately 1865 on a point of land at the intersection of Hightway # 3 and Wellandport Road. 

The small, wooden frame building with a double door hung on large black hinges for the entrance, was painted white and surrounded by a white picket fence. Behind the church was a drive shed for horses and buggies. 

The church had an upstairs hall that served as a meeting place for the Orange Lodge #509 (Sand Hill) the Choral Society and the Literary Society. The Literary Society was very active in the early 1900’s. They produced their own plays, gave readings and recitations, and presented musicals.

In 1884, the year of the Union of Methodist Churches in Canada, Forkes Road West Methodist Church was placed in the same circuit with Salem, Wellandport, Stromness and Moulton. In 1886 the Wellandport circuit was again divided and Forkes Road West, Stromness and Moulton were distinguished as a separate three-point circuit. The minister was a circuit-riding preacher, so he conducted services at Forkes Road West and at churches in Stromness and Moulton. The Sunday service at Forkes Road West was held in the afternoon. 

These three churches closed down in 1925 when the United Church of Canada was formed. The churches in Stromness in Moulton were sold, moved and converted into barns on the farms of Howard Rittenhouse and Frank Doughty. A number of members of the Forkes Road West Methodist Church congregation joined the Zion Methodist Church. 

In August of 1933, Forkes Road West Methodist Church was moved to the hamlet of Winger, just north of the Forkes Road Creamery, approximately 5 miles West of Chambers Corners, where it became Winger Tabernacle.

On July 16th, 1996, the Society purchased and moved the building to the Marshville Heritage Village. Its restoration was completed in the summer of 1998 and a Service of Dedication was held on September 6, 1998 during the Marshville Heritage Festival.