To watch a video on the church, click here.

Cooper-Wilson believes the general public does not understand the church’s significance. She wants to save the church and increase public awareness of her ancestors’ role in protecting Upper Canada.

Cooper-Wilson, of Elmvale, and her cousin Carolynn Wilson of Collingwood are descendants of Pte. Samuel Thomas, who settled in Oro-Medonte after the War of 1812.

During the war, Thomas defended Upper Canada with Captain Runchey’s Company of Coloured Men. The all-black unit fought alongside Allied First Nation warriors and participated in the Battle of Queenston Heights and many other battles along the Niagara Frontier.

After the war, veterans were entitled to land grants from the British government.

It was the first time in world history that any developed nation treated blacks as equal to whites, said local historian Tim Crawford.

“Because you’re a landowner, you’re declared a full citizen of the British Empire and that was so profound for blacks,” he said.

Black veterans began arriving in Oro-Medonte in 1819. They were each given 100-acres of land positioned along an invasion route to continue the defence of Upper Canada, Hughes said.

The black veterans worked as farmers for retired British half-pay officers, who were also granted land in Oro-Medonte. As part of their land grant duties, black settlers cleared trees and built roads.

The black community constructed Oro African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1849.

The church should be preserved as a monument to the contributions of black settlers, Wilson said.

After generations in Oro-Medonte, the black families moved to find better jobs – some settled in Collingwood to work in shipbuilding – because soil conditions in the township were so poor. Many of their descendants live on locally and in the United States.

“If it’s lost, it’s like we’ve lost ourselves,” Wilson said.

Once the money is raised and the church is repaired, volunteers with Oro-Medonte’s history association will provide tours to school groups and weekend visitors.

“It seems to me if we get this thing going we’re going to find a rejuvenation of the volunteers,” Hughes said.

Cooper-Wilson thanks locals who preserved the church over the years. Last time the church underwent major restoration was 1949.

“If we don’t (restore it), we’re kind of letting down all those people in the past that have contributed to keep that story and to keep that respect alive,” Hughes said.

The aging place of worship needs $140,000 in repairs. Fourteen years after its heritage designation was achieved, Parks Canada, through the national historic sites capital cost-share program, denied Oro-Medonte’s $74,000 grant request.

Hope is alive.

In celebration of Black History Month, Oro-Medonte has launched a national fundraising campaign, called The Journey To Freedom.

A successful crowd-funding event can save this historic church, but restoration work needs to begin this spring. You can help by donating today. CLICK HERE TO DONATE

To date, $8,299 has been raised.