This congregation actually began as a Primitive Methodist Church in the home of John and James Coates in 1843. In 1855, farmer Benjamin Rowley started another small church which gathered in the log cabin on his property. In 1867, he moved this gathering into Buckstown (the original name of Palgrave), calling it Zion-Buckstown. But the history of Palgrave United Church was also the history of Coates’, Hall’s, Waudby’s, Fuller’s, Tecumseth and King congregations. (In early times, since roads were almost non- existent and people rode or walked, it was necessary to have a church every two to three miles.)

The existing frame church at the corner of Pine and Maple Avenues was built and opened in 1878, for a total cost of $700.00. The attached burial ground was featured on this property as well.

In 1884, all the local circuit Methodist churches united as part of the Methodist Church of Canada.

In 1925, The United Church of Canada was formed when the Methodist Church, Canada, the Congregational Union of Canada, and 70 percent of the Presbyterian Church in Canada united. Also joining was the small General Council of Union Churches, mostly from Western Canada. It was the first union of churches in the world to cross historical denominational lines. Today, the United Church, now celebrating 100 years, is the largest Protestant denomination in Canada, with over a million participants, in about 2500 congregations.