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Registers of the Parishes of Williamsburg, Matilda, Osnabruck and Edwardsburg


These records are now held by the Anglican Church Archives in Ottawa but contain information related to these original Lutheran and Episcopal churches of the former Lunenburg District (now the united counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry) of Ontario. This collection was loaned to the National Archives of Canada for microfilming. The archival reference number is MG 9, D 7 (23), reel M-1496. I have captured all of the images contained in these microfilm records.

I would like to acknowledge the contribution by Elsie Evjen, Alexander Inglis and Killeen Farrell in helping to transcribe these registers. It has been a 3+ year project to catalogue the more than 800 pages containing baptism, marriage and burial records.

There are many other sites with partial transcriptions of these records and a few images. This site is the only one that I am aware of that has a complete set of images and a full transcription. I hope this information will be a valuable resource for researchers with ancestors who attended these early churches.

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How did the Lutheran Church Records end up in the possession of the Anglican Church?

The third minister (to serve the St. Lawrence Lutherans at Zion's Lutheran Church) was the Rev. J.G. Weigandt, a son-in-law of Rev. Schwetferger, the first minister. He also came from the Bay of Quinty district where he had been serving a Lutheran congregation. He assumed charge of Zion's church in 1808. For three years an harmonious relationship existed between pastor and people, then disruption followed. Being enticed by a government salary of 200 pounds Sterling per year, he secretly joined the Church of England, and the troubles experienced by the Lutherans of Nova Scotia were to be repeated in Ontario. In 1811 Weigandt was ordained in Quebec by the Protestant Episcopal Bishop, Dr. Mountain. He appeared before his people as a Lutheran clergyman, but he had subscribed to the 39 Articles and he endeavored to introduce the forms of the Church of England. Soon the secret scheme was known and great confusion followed. Some followed him and he raised a Church of England congregation from among the Lutherans. In 1814 the staunchest Lutherans who would not conform, invited Rev. Frederick Meyers to return. Under the leadership of Meyers the Lutherans demanded their church and parsonage but Weigandt refused to accede. He placed a padlock on the door and forbid anyone to enter unless they acknowledge the 89 Articles. Finally a compromise was affected. The Lutherans were given the use of the church every second Sunday but Weigandt refused to give up the parsonage. Since the Lutherans had only a License of Occupation and not a clear deed to the property it was difficult to take any action. Weigandt continued to serve as a Church of England clergyman until 1835. The records for the Lutheran church remained in the possession of Rev. Weigandt and were assumed by the Church of England (Anglican) where they now reside.