Nazrey African Methodist Episcopal Church National Historic Site of Canada

Nazrey African Methodist Episcopal Church was designated a national historic site of Canada because:

• it is a remarkable vernacular stone chapel erected in 1848 descended from an early Methodist congregation established in 1826;
• it is the building type perhaps most representative of the Underground Railroad (UGRR) community and values, and stands out as a religious icon throughout the Black community;
• it is distinctive architecturally as an early and excellent example of the many small refugee churches found throughout Ontario; and
• it has an important association with Bishop Willis Nazery, the first leader of the British Methodist Episcopal Church, a denomination established by UGRR refugees, a wholly Canadian denomination expressive of their allegiance to their new homeland.

In 1848 refugees from American slavery built this church by hand to serve Amherstburg's growing Black community. Its simple auditory-hall form is typical of many of the churches established by the UGRR communities in Canada.

The church is named for Bishop Nazery, who led many congregations, including this one, from the American-based AME Church conference into the new Canadian-based British Methodist Episcopal Church. The denomination flourished until the late 20th century when many dwindling congregations consolidated and reunited with the AME Church. It is now managed as part of the North American Black Historical Museum.