The British Methodist Episcopal (BME) Church, Salem Chapel was founded in 1820 [1] by African-American freedom seekers in St. Catharines, Ontario.

Guided tours of the church and museum, which displays original documents, artifacts, and a rare book collection, all associated with the anti-slavery movement, are available by appointment.

[1] The Salem Chapel was an important centre of abolitionist and civil rights activity, and was the cornerstone of a growing community of African-American refugees from the United States.

The most famous and celebrated member of the church was Harriet Tubman, who lived in the area from 1851 to 1858,[3] and led many fugitives to freedom via the Underground Railroad (UGGR) to St. Catharines, Ontario.

[3][1] Passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in the United States in 1850 caused some ex-slave preachers to fear travel to church conferences in the U.S., which might expose them to capture.