​The building you see today was originally constructed in 1876 as the Methodist Church in Maplewood, standing proudly on the southeast corner of Lot 31, Concession 7, West Zorra. For a time, it flourished. But by the early 1920s, the congregation had dwindled, and the church closed its doors. Left standing empty, it remained that way until a bold decision was made: fifty years after it was built, and a year after the United Church of Canada was established, the old Methodist church would be moved to Harrington to become the new home for the Broadview United Church.

And what a move it was! This was no small feat — the entire building was placed on wheels and pulled by tractors owned by James Clark and Len Howe, with steam engines provided by Herb Pelton, Ernest and Harry Clark, and the Bailey brothers. Contractor H. Whitehead was hired to oversee the move and paid $115 for the job. They made it halfway between the 7th and 8th lines (now Lines 43 and 45) when the church proved too heavy to continue. To lighten the load, the interior plaster was stripped from the walls, and with that, the journey resumed. At last, the church made it to Harrington, where it still stands today.[1]

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“Once in Harrington, the front and back sections of the new church were built from the discarded Methodist structure. Angus Reid, Hugh Reid and Wilbert Clark did the brick and cement work. Sandy and Sidney McKay looked after the plastering, and Jack Morrison was in charge of the carpentry work. All were assisted by volunteers.

On Jan.3, 1926, the first service was held in the basement of the new building, as construction of the upper portion continued. The cornerstone for the new church was laid on May 13, 1926, by Alfred Dunnell, at 84, the oldest member of the congregation.”[2]

On September 22, 1926, the church was filled to overflowing for the dedication service. The next day the church ladies served a fowl supper to a crowd of hungry guests, estimated to have reached 800-900 people!

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[1]  Historically Bound - Embro & West Zorra 1820-2007 Volume 2, page 555.

[2] Historically Bound - Embro & West Zorra 1820-2007 Volume 1, page 75.

Broadview United Church continued to serve the community for another 73 years. But by 1999, with a steadily declining congregation, the church held its final service and closed its doors. The following year, the Township of Zorra stepped in, purchasing the building and taking on most of the operational costs. In a generous parting gesture, the congregation left behind a significant endowment — a gift to help make the building more accessible to the broader community. On January 23, 2001, the Harrington & Area Community Association entered into an agreement with the Township to take on day-to-day operations and upkeep.

From there, transformation began. In 2007 and 2008, the Association, with the help of dedicated community volunteers, removed most of the pews, gave the interior a fresh coat of paint, built a thrust stage, refinished the original floor, and installed carpet in the front foyer. These changes created a more open, welcoming space for events. Thanks to the Broadview congregation trust, the bathroom was renovated and made wheelchair accessible.

That spirit of accessibility continued into 2008–2009, when the remaining trust funds were used to install lifts for wheelchair users — one to the upper Hall, another to the lower level, which houses the bathroom and the Harrington Branch of the Oxford County Library. In 2010, storage space was added under the stage for chairs, and in 2013, a sidewalk was installed. Most recently, in 2020, the Township installed a handicap ramp and new front steps at the request of the Association.

Still shining with history, the original stained glass windows -- donated by Broadview members in memory of loved ones -- remain a beautiful feature of the Hall today.

Now, the Hall continues to be full of life. The Association hosts concerts, potluck dinners, dances, and fundraising events, and takes care of the cleaning. They also manage Hall rentals on behalf of the Township, forwarding a portion of the proceeds and keeping the rest to help cover maintenance and operating costs, continuing the legacy of community that began here nearly 150 years ago.