African Methodist Episcopal Cemetery

Traffic, Neighbours

Otterville African Methodist Episcopal Church and Cemetery. Encouraged by local Quakers, free and escaped slaves fled persecution in the United States and found homes in the Otterville area beginning in 1829. As skilled tradespeople and farmers, these people made significant contributions to the local development. In 1856, trustees of the African Methodist Episcopal Church purchased .2 ha lot and built the first Black Church in Oxford County. The Church and cemetery served the local Black community until the late 1880s. The Church has disappeared by the early 20th century. It’s cemetery is one of the few preserved Black pioneer burial grounds in Ontario.