After 175 years, London's once-derelict fugitive slave chapel is resurrected

Rescued first from obscurity and then the wrecking ball, dozens of volunteers and history buffs gathered on Thursday to pay tribute to a once-derelict church for fugitive slaves that has now found its second coming as a living artifact.

The chapel, built in 1848 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, served as a gathering and worship space for London's Black community until 1869.

For James Schree, whose family has connections to the little chapel that played a big role in the city's history, it was good to see the building restoredserving once again as a place for community gathering and learning.

"My great, great grandfather went to this church," he said. "It's very good to see that this has been restored and is there for the story to be told over and over again as a reminder of what's possible when you're facing a lot of hardship and what's possible when you get together as a community."

WATCH | James Schree's ancestors attended this church

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For James Schree, whose family has connections to the little chapel with a big role in the city's history, it was good to see the building restored.

Among London's buildings, there are likely few that have witnessedso much hardship, but also joy.

As a stop on the Underground Railroad, the little chapel was a refuge for Blacks fleeing a life of chattel slavery south of the border and a place where they could be reunited with family, take solace in their faithand be reborn in Canada as free men and women.

Once London's Black community outgrew the small wooden chapel, they built a new church, further east onGrey Street in SoHo, wheretheBeth-Emmanuel British Methodist Episcopal Church still stands today.

The chapel on Thames Street took on a number of roles after that, as a home, as an office for a taxi service and eventually a derelict building. It was in 2013 when an application came to city hall by the taxi companyto have the building demolished.

Chapel saved from demolition in 2013

Former city councillor Harold Usher saw the application, knew what the building was and asked city hall to put a hold on the demolition so he could contact London's Black community.

"We raised some money to move it, from Thames Street to Grey Street," he said, adding that plans to make the old chapel into a museum dedicated to London's Black community fizzled out and the church sat empty as volunteers looked for a way to have the church recognized for its cultural significance.

Fanshawe Pioneer Village agreed to take the church and turn into a living artifact and knowing a good deal when he heard one, Usher flexed his political muscles and worked the phones.

"I called each city councillor individually," he said.

It worked. City council agreed to pay for the $71,000 move, which saw the old chapel roll through the city in a sight some locals described as "unbelievable."

When it got to the city's largest outdoor museum, work to restore the chapel began. Dakota Kitching, a general contractor with Tradition Construction in London worked on the 173-year-old building.

"This is my first major historical project," he said. "It was very rotted from animals and weather getting in. We saved everything that we could."

Among the items saved were the original timber beams, many of the joists and wainscotting.

"I've never built anything like this," he said. "Working in there, in the back of your mind it was always 'wow,' someone stood here. Finding the original trap door was pretty cool to see, knowing people had used it."