Fugitive Slave Chapel Preservation Project

Fugitive Slave Chapel Preservation Project The Fugitive Slave Chapel Preservation Project (FSCPP) is a community-based effort to save the forme His goal was to free slaves and get weapons for them.

Permanently closed.

Why is the old "fugitive slave chapel" of London, Ontario worth saving? Although some see this as a site for Black Heritage, it is a site rich in North American History. When fugitive slaves settled in London, Ontario, they were looking for freedom and safety. The damp, smelly hollow had very low land prices, and the escaped slaves had very little, so they worked and saved to buy this inexpensive

land. In 1847, along with other Blacks, they acquired the lot at 275 Thames Street and erected a modest house of worship a year later. This was the first African Methodist Episcopal Church built in London, and locals sometimes called it the "fugitive slave chapel". In 1853 the railroad arrived in London, and it caused a construction boom and land speculation that would last until the depression of 1857. During this period, the values of the modest dwellings of the fugitive slaves increased and some of them became very well-to-do. In Illustrated London, a book from 1897, Archie Bremner wrote that in 1853 the Black population "owned real estate assessed at $13,504 -- a considerably higher average than for White men of the period." The Black population began to spread out, and they built a more impressive church building about 1868-1869 on Grey Street, in what is now known as the SoHo district. In the British Commonwealth anti-slavery laws dated back to July 9, 1793, and Slavery was abolished in 1833. In the United States, slavery would not be abolished until the end of the Civil War in 1865. In 1858 a man named John Brown came to Canada from the United States and visited the chapel in London, Ontario. The federal armory in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia was a good place to start, but he needed money. The relatively wealthy Black population in London seemed like a good source of funds, so in 1858 he entered the premises at 275 Thames St in London to make his appeal. His fundraising was a success. The raid on the arsenal at Harpers Ferry was not, however. With many of his men killed, John Brown was arrested, and after a speedy trial, was hanged on December 2, 1859. Many regard this skirmish as the battle that started the Civil War. In 1861, the United States' Civil War began when 7 southern states seceded from the Union (4 additional states seceded later) over disagreements about the expansion of slavery into the western territories, states' rights, and trade and tariffs. They feared that the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 on a platform that suggested an opposition to slavery in the territories would eventually lead to the abolition of slavery, which would have destroyed the South's economy and culture. The war ended in 1865, and slavery was abolished in the United States when the Thirteenth Amendment was adopted on December 18, 1865. So why is the building at 275 Thames Street important to our heritage? It was instrumental in the fight against slavery and the Civil War. It is part of the history of this continent, and that it why it is worth saving.

Address

432 Grey St.
London, ON
N6B 1H3

Telephone

+15194334311

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Fugitive Slave Chapel Preservation Project posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Fugitive Slave Chapel Preservation Project:

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Our Story

----------------------------------------------

The Fugitive Slave Chapel Preservation Project (FSCPP) is a community-based effort to save the former African Methodist Episcopal Church (1848-1869) that was popularly known as the "Fugitive Slave Chapel." It was the first Black church in London, Ontario, Canada, and it provided refuge for escaped slaves from the United States. The chapel was more than just a church. In addition to being a safe haven for escaped slaves, it was pillar in London's early Black community, and it was a centre for abolitionist activities. As a result of its prominence in London's history, the London Public Library designated it a heritage property, and the City of London labeled it a "priority one" heritage building. Despite its prominence however, the property has not been designated a heritage property by any government, and it is therefore not protected under the Ontario Heritage Act. (For more information about the chapel's history, please visit our homepage.)

To prevent the chapel's demolition and preserve it, a coalition of individuals and groups from London's Black, heritage/ historic, and SoHo communities initiated the FSCPP. The project focuses on moving the Fugitive Slave Chapel from its present location to a lot next to the Beth Emmanuel Church (the current home of the chapel's congregation). In its new location, the chapel will be transformed into a community centre that will serve as a meeting space and site for charitable works. The centre will also include a Black history library and a small showroom or museum for Black history artifacts. The multifunctional space will be open and accessible to all, regardless of race or religion. It will also help to revitalize the SoHo community.

The project requires commitments from individuals and groups willing to serve as volunteers or donate funds. The FSCPP team is also seeking donations from organizations and businesses as well. With the contributions from individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses, the FSCPP's team will be able to return the chapel to its rightful place as a piece of Canada's heritage, a space for charitable efforts, and a resource for the London community.