Free Meeting House

Moncton Museum | Thomas Williams House 

The Free Meeting House was built in 1821, and is one of Moncton’s oldest standing public buildings. It was constructed in the style of a New England Meeting House without steeple, bell or cornerstone. Its purpose was to serve as a home for all religious denominations until such time as individual groups could raise the money required to build their own churches.

The historic building was constructed mainly through the efforts of Ichabod Lewis, a Loyalist from Poughkeepsie New York, and Solomon Trites, whose grandfather Jacob Trites Senior’s land grant contained a large portion of modern Moncton. These two men, together with elder Joseph Crandall, a Baptist missionary, felt a great need for a place of worship opened to all faiths.

Land containing half an acre, more or less, was purchased from William and Hannah Steadman for 20 pounds sterling and was deeded over to Lewis and Trites. The deed was prepared by Malcolm Wilmot, the local Justice of the Peace and was signed in his presence May 24, 1821. The land was promptly cleared and the building constructed, largely with free materials and donated labor. Elder Crandall conducted the Dedication Service on September 7, 1821.

The south and rear of the site became a burial ground for the little settlement. The oldest stone, that of John Charters, is dated 1816. The most recent is dated 1876, being that of an infant Merril Brown.

In November 1838, 600 men of the 65th Regiment arrived from Saint John, en route to Shediac, there to take ship for Quebec. Since no other public building existed, the Free Meeting House became the Orderly Room for the troops encamped nearby.

Also of interest is the fact that on August 22nd, 1876, Bishop Cummins from New York City conducted the first Confirmation Service of the Reformed Episcopalian Church in Canada.

In 1964, city council took over the title of the building and repairs were carried out. The Free Meeting House was rededicated as a memorial to early settlers on September 25th, 1966, and the church together with the graveyard declared a national historic site.

The latest restoration of the Free Meeting House took place from 1987 to 1990 and was the first of its kind to have been undertaking by the City of Moncton. In June 1990, the Free Meeting House was designated a National Historic Site.

Rental Policy

The Free Meeting House is available to be rented by groups for special occasions such as wedding, press conferences, meetings and church services.  For more information on the Free Meeting House, view the Free Meeting House Rental Policy.   

Bookings will be done through the Parks & Leisure Services at the City of Moncton's Operations Centre on 100, Worthington Avenue and online. Payment is due in full at time of booking. Payments can be made by credit card or cheque.