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Sharon Temple

Sharon Temple National Historic Site
Sharon Temple.jpg
Sharon Temple is located in Ontario
Sharon Temple
Sharon, ON
Established 1832
Location 18974 Leslie St., Sharon, ON
Coordinates 44°06′05″N 79°26′31″W / 44.101332°N 79.441874°W / 44.101332; -79.441874
Public transit access GO Transit
Website Sharon Temple
Designated 1990

Coordinates: 44°06′05″N 79°26′31″W / 44.101332°N 79.441874°W / 44.101332; -79.441874

The Sharon Temple is an open-air museum site, located in the village of Sharon, Ontario, that was in 1990 designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. It is composed of eight distinctive heritage buildings and dwellings, and houses 6,000 artifacts on a 1.8 ha. site. The building is made available for public use such as tours, concerts, weddings, and special occasions by its current owner, the Sharon Temple Museum Society.

It was constructed between 1825 and 1832 by the "Children of Peace", a Quaker sect led by David Willson on whose property it was built. Other restored buildings include David Willson's Study, which is a smaller architectural gem. The Ebenezer Doan house of 1819, constructed by the Temple's master-builder and relocated from the former Doan family farm nearby, has been restored in an early garden setting. Also on site are the "cook house" where communal meals were created and served, the "drive shed' complete with period carriages, and another of David Willson's architectural curiosities – the round outhouse. The Ontario Heritage Trust has a public easement to ensure its preservation meets conservation standards.

The leader of the sect was David Willson, who was born in New York State in 1778 and migrated to Upper Canada in 1801. He joined the Quakers of which his wife was a member, but his ministry was rejected when he began to preach at the beginning of the War of 1812. His sect placed great emphasis on ceremony, music and practical education. Followers of the sect were strong political reformers and Willson played a critical role in the creation of the Canadian Alliance Society, the first political party in the province. Several members joined William Lyon Mackenzie in the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion. They continued to play a key role in the development of democracy in Canada by ensuring the elections of both "fathers of responsible government," Robert Baldwin and Louis LaFontaine, in their riding despite threats of political violence by the Orange Order. After Willson's death in 1866 the sect slowly diminished. The last service was held in the Temple in 1889.


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