Zion Bible Christian Cemetery
(1839-1972)
The following is taken from Harold Reeves' History of the Township of Hope
John Hicks Eymon received the appointment as Missionary of the Bible Christians, arriving from England with his wife in the summer of 1833. He was stationed at Cobourg, where he wrote
In the early winter of 1833, I was invited to preach at what was called the Log School House, in the western part of the Township of Hope. This was the commencement of the society now known as Zion. The first protracted service that I held in Canada was at the log school house. At the close of the meeting it was agreed to build a Chapel.
The first Chapel was framed and erected in 1839 on land deeded by Samuel Naylor. The first, second, third, and fifth District meetings were held in the Zion Chapel. Minister William Hooper, in a letter dated 09 Nov 1858, wrote
A week from next Sabbath (God willing) we intend to open a very neat new Chapel at Zion in this circuit. It is about thirty-two feet by forty-two feet, with a good basement for Sunday School purposes. It will cost 500 pounds and will be the fifth good, substantial brick Chapel in the Circuit.
This plot map, supplied by Bob Symons, was taken from a 15 July 1962 Memorial Service booklet. His grandfather, Rev. W.A. "Bert" Harding, was a United Church minister at Welcome, Wesleyville, and Morrish in the late 1950s. Rev. Harding attended this service.
This list of Zion burials was researched by John Smith of the East Durham Historical Society in 1997 and submitted by former Board member, Patricia Endicott in 2014. Photographs of the stones can be acquired on request.
Peter and Barbara Bolton - Port Hope, Ontario
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