OUR HISTORY:

"I hear the sound of the abundance of rain" was the first message preached by John Wakefield on the shores of Grimsby beach in August, 1959. This was the beginning of the Grimsby Camp Meetings. Prior to this time, people from Ancaster to Niagara Falls were ministered to by circuit riders. They met with groups of people - whether it was an isolated family or a whole village - to sing hymns, preach, pray and minister. Each year for 10 days a large camp meeting would be held so that everyone could worship together, to be filled and inspired enough to last through the long winter. In 1859 it was decided that a permanent place for people to gather to worship was required. John Bowslaugh (one of the first circuit riders grandsons) had property stretching from Main St. in Grimsby (now Vinifera Bed and Breakfast) all the way to Lake Ontario. He offered up the woodlands near the beach to be used as camp meeting ground. 

As soon as weather permitted that spring the committee met again and with bared heads they knelt in prayer and asked God's blessing on the project. All men and women worked together to make the camp ready. Trees were felled, platforms for fire were created, straw gathered for beds. Notices were printed asking that Friday, August 26th to be observed as a day of fasting and prayer for the blessing of God on this means for the revival of His work. Those early meetings were characterized by great simplicity, earnestness and spirituality. The people came together for the sole purpose of engaging in religious exercises for the benefit of themselves and others. For this purpose business was suspended, household routine disturbed and entire energies of the participants given to the work of advancing the kingdom of Jesus Christ. They expected to be blessed and strengthened and were not disappointed. People came forth from the meetings with faces shining with the light which comes alone from altitudes beyond the reach of the soul's everyday experience.

The Ontario Methodist Campground Company was officially registered with the government in 1875. Noah Phelps was made president - he was a devout Methodist. His cottage was always open for prayer and spiritual discussion. He seemed to have been the heart of Grimsby Park. There were strict rules in the camp - curfew is instated, no alcohol, foul language, laundry on Sundays. If rules were broken leases were ripped up. The camp was still very much Methodist at heart. In 1875 cottages were built - complete with gingerbread - it looked straight out a fairytale! The train began to stop at the beach and the campground was opened for the whole summer. Daily worship services and prayer was observed. The camp opened in 1875 complete with a grocery store, post office, barbershop, telegraph office and restaurant. Shortly later, there was a fee for admittance. In the years that followed two hotels were built and boat services from Toronto and Hamilton. Rules began to become more relaxed. The spiritual climate of the beach was changing.

In 1888 a large Temple was erected in the centre of the park. 7,000 people could be seated within. It was 122 feet in diameter and 100 feet tall. People came from far and wide to see this architectural beauty. In 1901 at the request of shareholders, the new Board of Directors changed the corporate name from "the Ontario Methodist Camp Ground Company" to the "Grimsby Park Co. Ltd". New programming includes sermons, lectures, concerts, entertainments, classes in elocution and studies in literature besides other attractions like boating and sport.

In 1909 the Grimsby Park company became bankrupt. Harry H. Wylie from Cleveland took over the park, drops the curfew and eliminates the strict Methodist. He establishes a midway with a fish pond, shooting gallery and two merry-go-rounds. A large roller coaster was erected and he built a dance hall / casino at the edge of the beach. In 1914 35 cottages as well as the Park hotel burned to the ground. Through the 20's the beach area meets steady decline in attendance. The temple went into disrepair and was torn down. Another fire sweeps through the park in 1927 and 20 more cottages are lost. It is still a wonderful place to picnic and cottage but any remembrance of its former Spiritual heritage has disappeared.

These are the words of Harriet Phelps (niece to Noah) in the book she wrote in 1900...
Like the rest of the world, Grimsby Park stands on the threshold of a new century. The prophets tell us in spite of the dark clouds which hang low over the moral horizon in some quarters, in spite of the angry passions which seem so rampant among the nations, and the selfishness which dominates the business world, the coldness which devitalizes the Church in some places, the world is about to enter upon a period of peacefulness and great spiritual awakening. The arm of the Lord is still powerful to allay the turbulent passions of men and nations, and electrify with renewed fervor the fainting spirits of the faithful. When that time of peace comes and we have learned to turn expectant eyes toward the heavens, when God's people are ready for the spiritual uplifting which is to place them on the higher plane of living which we hope lies before us in the near future - Grimsby Park will again resound with songs and hallelujahs. Holiness to the Lord will be the theme of every sermon,the burden of every song. Grimsby Park has a noble past; a present which is in perfect harmony with the trend of the times and full of promise, and a future which we venture to predict will combine all the enjoyments and privileges of the present with a spiritual zeal an devotion which will surpass even that of the old times.

References:
Harriet Phelps Youmans, Grimsby Park - Historical and Descriptive (Toronto, 1900).
Dorthy Turcotte, Greetings from Grimsby Park - The Chautauqua of Canada, (Erin, 1985)