Her Majesty’s Royal Chapel of the Mohawks will be celebrating its 230th Anniversary on Sunday, September 27, as well as enjoying an annual Thanksgiving Service.
The chapel was originally named St. Paul’s as the first protestant church in Canada, but in 1904 it was declared a Royal Chapel and now receives over 2500 visitors annually.
Mohawk Chapel Event Coordinator Jacqueline Jamieson says the event welcomes everyone.
“It’s the 230th Anniversary for the Chapel, and we’re going to be having our Annual Thanksgiving Service as well. So, we’re going to be having the beginning of the service at 2 o’clock, and then right after that is the 230th Anniversary Celebration,” said Thomas, explaining that the event will end at 4 o’clock.
“We’re having special guests; the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Elizabeth Dowdswell, as well as Chief Ava Hill, Bishop Terry Dance and Bishop Mark MacDonald as well. They’re going to be doing some speeches, we’re also going to be talking about the historical significance of the chapel, then afterwards we’re going to be providing refreshments downstairs,” she explained.
She included that the restoration process for the chapel has been funded by the Six Nations Community Development Trust, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Weston Foundation, McLean Foundation, and Six Nations Tourism.
“For the chapel, we actually have a restoration project going on right now. This year, we have replaced the roof with a metal roof that looks like cedar. And we’re also fixing our bell tower our front, and our outlook out back,” she said. “We’re also continuing on with our restorations next year, we’re hoping to put in a new fence, but we actually just had new doors installed as well,” she said.
Jamieson explained that donations are always welcome to help with the restoration of the chapel to maintain its historical presence, and any of the public is welcome to attend the event.