English: St. John's United Church, 533 Main Street in Glen Williams, Ontario, Canada. Constructed 1840 (bricked over in 1903)

• Unique wood frame Methodist church built 1840 and bricked over in 1903

• Has functioned as a church since 1840

• Located in the heart of Glen Williams next to the Credit River

One of the first land severences made by Benajah Williams was in July 1840 when he put his shaky signature to the deed which sold to the Methodist Episcopal Trustees its land for a church and burial ground, for five shillings.

There is no record of anyone being buried on site since the land is so close to the river, but a wood frame church was built and used for services until 1903. In 1903 the church was renovated and brick walls were added directly overtop of the existing wooden structure.

The Williams family, founders of Glen Williams, supported the Methodist Episcopal church, and Charles and Jacob Williams were among the first trustees of the congregation in the Glen. The other trustees were the minister, Morris Kennedy; a yeoman, Henry Grass; and a carpenter and joiner, George Kennedy (who gave his name to the neighbouring village of Georgetown). When the church was bricked over in 1903 (was there a little rivalry with their Anglican neighbours, who were putting up their stone church, St. Alban the Martyr Anglican Church, across the river at the same time?), a stone was cut to indicate that the congregation dated back to 1837.

The Methodist Episcopal church became part of the Methodist Church in 1884 (which included the Wesleyans), and this in turn helped to form the United Church of Canada in 1925.