From:  "THE AXE AND WHEEL"
By:  THE WOMEN'S INSTITUTE OF OXFORD

METHODIST:

The West Oxford Methodist Church was established around 1804.  The site of this church is about half way between the first and second concession lines of West Oxford and two miles east of Ingersoll.  REV. BANGS was among the 1st converts to Methodism in New York State.  In 1802, as a circuit minister with a tremendous faith in God, he came into Ontario via the Niagara District.  He organized churches there and as far west as Burford in Upper Canada.   Having heard of a settlement farther west, known as "Oxford on the Thames", he set out to find it.   When he arrived at the Grand River at Brant's crossing, the Grand was at flood stage.   In attempting to cross the river his horse was drowned, forcing him to turn back.   People from the Bay of Quinte area heard of NATHAN'S loss and bought him another horse.   In the spring of 1804 REV. BANGS set out again for the West, arriving at " oxford on the Thames" in August.   Meetings were held in settler's homes and sometimes under the trees.   A church was organized as a result and then this enterprising minister pushed on further westward.   His travels took him to Delaware, Amherstburg and finally Detroit.   He arrived back at Burford in late fall.   In about 1805 a log meeting house was built on the SW corner of Lot 7, Broken Front Concession, of West Oxford, where Karn burial ground was located.   This church was burned in 1813 by Westbrook Raiders.   From 1813 to 1823 services were held in a schoolhouse which had been built about 1807 on Lot 15, Con 1, where the present west Oxford Church and Cemetery are located.   The original community was composed largely of United Empire Loyalists, a hardy, moral, deeply religious people.   Some of these pioneer names are: UREN, PIPER, BRINK, SCOTT, HARRIS, GALLOWAY, PIERCE, WOOD, REYNOLDS, JANES and SAGE.   In 1842 Woodstock was the head of the circuit with REV. HENRY BYERS as pastor.   In 1849 Ingersoll was the head and the REV. JAMES SHEPLEY as pastor.   In 1868 the church was placed with Salford as the head, then in 1944 Beachville became the head of the circuit with West Oxford and Sweaburg.   In 1854 REV WILLIAM RYERSON gave a sermon.   The REV. ALEX G. HARRIS, then a boy of 13, clearly remembered the sermon.   In 1904 REV. ALEX G. HARRIS preached the Jubilee Anniversary services.   In 1923 REV ALBERT C. CREWS, D.D. of Toronto, a former pastor whose father had also served as pastor of this little church, gave a sermon.

Four of the members of the Church in 1974 were: LAWRENCE JOHNSTON of Avon who, in August celebrated his 106th birthday. MRS. MARY BROWN of Foldens, West Oxford, who celebrated her 100th birthday, DUNCAN McLAUCHLIN, aged 84 and EBEN W. UREN, 82 both of Ingersoll.

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