Addie Aylestock
Born the eldest of eight children, Addie Aylestock grew up around the Conestogo River near Elmira. Often having to move to find work, the Aylestock family lived in various farming communities as Aylestock was growing up. Looking to support herself, Aylestock moved to Toronto, where she began working as a domestic housekeeper in her teens.
“I know when I first came to Toronto there weren’t many opportunities for Black girls, in those days anyways,” said Aylestock in an excerpt from Dionne Brand’s essay, “We Weren’t Allowed to go into Factory Work Until Hitler Started the War.”
“And then again, my parents were satisfied that I had a job in housework that I would stay in. I think I got 15 dollars a month at the start—that was supposed to be enough for your clothes, and your car fare. I lived in the west end of Toronto then, on Brighton Avenue.”
While working in Toronto, Aylestock also attended the Medical Missionary College in hopes of gaining a better education and working in Africa one day.
After deciding to remain in Toronto instead of working abroad, Aylestock found her calling while training at Toronto Bible College and while attending the British Methodist Episcopal Church (BME).
In 1959, Aylestock was appointed deaconess at BME—a position that historically offers women the opportunity to take on a role of spiritual and communal leadership. At the time, deaconess was the highest position available for women at the BME. However, after an amendment made to BME’s doctrine, ordination of women within the church was granted. As a result of the amendments, Aylestock became the first woman ordained at the BME, while also becoming the first African-Canadian woman ordained in Canada. Aylestock’s time as a minister for BME was incredibly influential—working for nearly 20 years, she was able to travel across Southern Ontario to organize and develop congregations for the BME in North Buxon, St. Catherines, Fort Erie, Owen Sound, and Guelph.
–Written by Emilio Ghloum