On Tuesday March 12 the Partners in Learning group had a field trip to visit Stewart Memorial Church on John Street.
Aileen Duncan gave the kind invitation to visit and explore the history of this church which is an Ontario Historic Site.
It has served as both a religious and social centre for Hamilton’s community of African descent since 1835 when it was housed in a log structure on Rebecca Street, and has been at this site since 1879.
Aileen herself is a descendant of a fugitive slave who along with others was settled in the Canfield area. She shard her reminiscences of growing up both in Canfield and In Hamilton.
It was a joy to see so many wonderful original artifacts and feel both the past and the present melded together.
An historical gem in our downtown city.