FAQ | Wesleyville Village

Frequently Asked Questions about Wesleyville Village

Who are the Friends?

The Friends of Wesleyville Village is a charitable organization committed to preserving and sharing the village’s cultural and natural heritage through community events and educational programming. Guided by community engagement and environmental stewardship, the Friends actively organize events and restoration projects to keep Wesleyville vibrant and welcoming for future generations.

Is it open to the public?

Yes, the grounds surrounding the Wesleyville church and schoolhouse, as well as our nature trail, are open to visitors. Members of the community are welcome to explore and enjoy the natural tranquility. Please note, however, that the Oughtred 'Y-House,' located centrally on the property, serves as a private residence for our on-site caretakers and is not open to the public.

Who runs the village?

Wesleyville Village is governed by a volunteer board of directors, chaired by Kathy Dennis. The 2025 board members are Kathryn McHolm, Robert Sculthorpe, Sue Stickley, Bree Nixon, Scott Meldrum, Scott Bradley, and Kristina Mills. The village grounds and facilities are maintained by our resident caretakers, supported by a dedicated team of community volunteers.

When was the village settled?

Long, long ago in Anishinaabe territory, hunting was good and the people walked the path near the Lake of Shining Waters to gather and harvest the plentiful fish in the streams and rivers. Lakeshore Road was the trail used by Indigenous peoples. Archaeological evidence has been found of ancient villages just north of Wesleyville.

By 1800 the trail became the “King’s Road” from York (Toronto) to Smith’s Creek (Port Hope). In May 1801 the crown granted 300 acres in lot 30 Hope Township to John Willcocks, who may have been one of the surveyors. The settlement of neighbouring properties followed soon afterward.

By the 1860’s Wesleyville was thriving with homes and farmsteads fronting on both sides of Lakeshore Road and scattered north-south along the road allowance between the cemetery and the Y-House. The Church, school, and post-office served a community stretching from Port Britain to Port Granby. There was a blacksmith’s shop, a tavern, a cobbler, a carpenter, a machine shop, and a barrel manufacturer.

Why was Wesleyville almost abandoned?

Both the Church and school were closed in the late 1960’s, concurrent with Ontario Hydro’s acquisition of almost 2,000 acres as a site for generation and transmission of electricity. Gradually the village became abandoned as properties were acquired and houses forsaken and eventually demolished by Ontario Hydro. When the Friends of Wesleyville Village was formed in 2009, only the Oughtred (or "Y") house was occupied. After Ontario Hydro was divided into several public corporations including Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Hydro One, ownership of the remaining village buildings transferred to OPG. The exception was the 1860 Wesley Church (still owned by the United Church of Canada) and its cemetery (managed by a local Board, and still open).

What protection is there for the remaining 7.5 acre village?

In 1990 Hope Township designated the 1860 church under the Ontario Heritage Act.

A 49-year lease protecting the Wesleyville church property was signed by The Friends of Wesleyville Village and the United Church of Canada in March 2025.

The cemetery is protected under the Cemeteries Act and managed by a local board.

In 2016, 7.5 acres including the School, the Oughtred House, the Barrowclough House and two barns were listed by the Province of Ontario as a Provincial Heritage Property of local significance – a “cultural heritage landscape”.

A 20-year lease with OPG for the school, barn and Oughtred House was signed in January 2018.

OPG has conducted a Heritage Conservation Plan for its property and a Heritage Impact Assessment on the Barrowclough house and barn property.

The future of all the OPG-owned Wesleyville area property (over 1330 acres) rests with the Government of Ontario.

Which projects have been completed, and what is planned for the coming year?

It has been a busy and productive year for the Friends of Wesleyville Village. With a long-term lease for the church property finalized in early 2025, funds donated for fire recovery can be securely invested in the church as a community use facility.

The successful 2024 completion of an Ontario Trillium Foundation capital grant of $97,500 provided new accessibility features for the church as part of our overall fire recovery project.

Designated fire recovery funds supported the installation of a restored heritage entrance to the church in late 2024, with the threshold and the restored transom window installed in 2025.

Designated fire recovery funds also support the restoration of the church’s stained-glass windows, a significant project which is currently underway, and an important step in restoring the building’s historic character and beauty.

Structural and waterproofing repairs to the schoolhouse have been completed, and electricity was reconnected in 2024. Interior refurbishment of the schoolhouse is ongoing as we continue enhancing this facility to accommodate even more community gatherings and private rentals.

The summer of 2024 saw the completion of a newly-refurbished reception area/office on the east side of the Oughtred ‘Y-House’. This bright, welcoming space will be used for events, tour headquarters, and meetings. The main portion of the ‘Y-House’, which serves as the private residence of our on-site caretaker, remains strictly off-limits to the public.

Creating a sustainable and resilient organization is the goal of a two-year $45,900 project approved by the Ontario Trillium Foundation in March, 2024. The grant provides funding for a Community Program Coordinator, who is currently working to support and enhance long term organizational sustainability.

In August of 2025, the Friends of Wesleyville Village (FOWV) were pleased to announce that the Ontario Trillium Foundation approved a $154,400 Capital grant over 12 months to be used towards the restoration of the interior of the fire-damaged church to meet community needs. Work on the interior is expected to begin late in 2025 and will take about one year to complete. Once finished, FOWV will once again be able to welcome the community inside this treasured building and return to hosting events in the church space.

Restoration plans by architect P.H. Carter for all four heritage buildings are being implemented as funds are raised. Fundraising continues for the restoration of all Wesleyville buildings for community use.

Natural heritage conservation and development of interpretive features including a publicly accessible nature trail is ongoing.

What does the future hold for the village?

The vision of the Friends of Wesleyville Village is to celebrate our rural heritage and sustain the village by engaging our community. Our dedicated Board of Directors will continue to work with OPG, the Municipality of Port Hope and the Province of Ontario to ensure we are able to protect and share Wesleyville Village for the benefit of future generations.

Wesleyville will continue to offer community use and facility rentals for appropriate events, accommodate the needs of visitors and cyclists, and maintain a live-in caretaker presence to care for the property and provide security. Conservation and education activities will continue to focus on the rich natural and cultural heritage of this Provincial Heritage Site.

The future of Wesleyville includes a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, with efforts focused on reducing our environmental footprint through the adaptive reuse of abandoned structures, pursuing zero-garbage operations, and expanding educational programming.

Wesleyville Heritage Village