Welcome to The Warner Cemetery (Methodist Episcopal Church) website.

The Warner Cemetery, also known as the Warner Burying Ground, is a historically significant site located on Warner Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. It holds deep roots in Canadian history, particularly within the development of Methodism in the region.

Dating back to the 1700s, the cemetery serves as the final resting place for numerous early Loyalist settlers, including prominent figures like Christian Warner, a veteran of Butler’s Rangers during the American Revolution. Warner was instrumental in establishing one of the earliest “Methodist Classes” in the province, with services initially held in his home.

In 1801, a simple frame chapel, known as the “Warner Meeting House,” was erected on Warner’s property, becoming the first Methodist church in Canada west of the Bay of Quinte. The adjacent cemetery grew around this significant religious hub.

Over the years, the Warner Cemetery has been recognized for its heritage value, designated as a Heritage site under the Ontario Heritage Act. It continues to be a testament to the pioneering spirit of early Canadian settlers and the enduring legacy of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the Niagara region.