TAYLOR, William Bagshaw (1846- 1930), of Allandale, Ontario (near Barrie) was listed as a carpenter and builder in various source materials from central Ontario during the period from 1875 onward. However, after 1900 he was described as the “architect” of several Methodist churches in the region, and he appears to have made a specialty of ecclesiastical design, providing plans as well as the services of building and constructing each church. In 1915 it was stated in the Acton Free Press that “...Mr. Taylor is an experienced builder of churches, and he has erected some 27 town and country churches”, all of them likely from his own designs. In 1921 he was still living in Barrie, Ont. at the age of 75 years. He later died there on 13 January 1930 (Province of Ontario - Simcoe County, Certificate of Registration of Death 032 094).
LAKEFIELD, ONT., Lakefield Methodist [now United] Church, Regent Street near Albert Street, 1908 (Lakefield United Church 100th Anniversary, 1962, with references to William Taylor, architect)
OAKWOOD, ONT., Methodist Church, Highway 7 near Victoria Street, 1912; still standing in 2020 (Watchman-Warder [Lindsay], 20 June 1912, 12, descrip.; Lindsay Post, 29 Nov. 1912, p. 9 & 12, illus. and detailed descrip.)
OAKWOOD, ONT., new Public School, 1913 (Watchman-Warder [Lindsay], 8 Jan. 1914, 9)
NASSAGAWEYA, ONT. [a.k.a. Brookville, near Guelph], Ebenezer Methodist Church, 1915 (Acton Free Press, 14 Jan. 1915, 3; and 27 May 1915, 2)