A place to learn about the history of the Free Methodist Church...

Stay safe! Keep well!
We will look forward to welcoming visitors to the Centre again
as soon as it is safe to do so. 
In the meantime, we encourage visitors to take an online tour.

---

Discover the history of Free Methodism in south western Ontario. Our unique display of donated archival materials, some of which date back over 100 years,  includes information about:

• presiding Bishops and administrative Superintendents, lay leaders and missionaries,
• pastoral appointments, and 
• local churches.

Our collection contains over 1,500 catalogued artifacts include periodicals, rare books, writings by prominent church leaders along with church furnishing, photographs, signature quilts and missionaries' records. 

If you have Free Methodist roots in your family tree, or are interested in learning more about the
​Free Methodist Church and its history in Ontario, the Robb Centre is an excellent resource.

The Robb Centre opened in 1987, under the sponsorship of the former Great Lakes Conference, and with the generous support of the General Conference.

It was named to honour Rev. James and Ora Robb, a former Free Methodist pastor and his wife, who were among the founding committee members instrumental in organizing the establishment of the Centre in 1987. 

The Robb Centre is located in Thamesford, just east of London, Ontario the grounds of the Maple Grove Christian Retreat Centre, a scenic wooded expanse of more than 185 acres. 

This air-conditioned centre is under the direction of a committee of volunteers approved by the Free Methodist Church in Canada. Outside of the pandemic, it is open limited hours during Family Camp Week or by appointment.

Explore this website for a virtual tour and contact us for more information. 

Maple Grove Christian Retreat Centre was founded in 1947 by Free Methodists to provide a facility for evangelism, spiritual growth and the opportunity for fellowship with other Christians. Today, Maple Grove hosts individuals and groups from various denominations. Some have week-long retreats and day retreats while others come for weekend retreats and seminars.

Thanks for visiting!
If you'd like more information, submit your question by filling out the contact form under the Contact Us tab.