Adam Prudhomme
Beaver Staff
Parishioners of Christ Church, Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal of the Mohawk Tyendinaga Territory had plenty to celebrate during a special ceremony held last Friday.
Along with the building’s 175th anniversary and the 65th anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, members of the restoration committee could celebrate the completion of their painstaking project to save the chapel.
Members of the committee gave thanks to the many donors that helped make the two-phase project possible, helping them raise $1.2 million to restore the foundation of the historic chapel and then an additional $336,822 for repairs to the interior.
Restoration of the building has been ongoing since 1998, when an expert was brought in to assess the structural integrity of the building, which was constructed in 1843.
“We found the chapel was in a serious state of deterioration,” said Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte Chief Donald Maracle. “The small congregation that was here didn’t have the money for the repairs. We asked the church if they would form a restoration committee. We had no idea the magnitude of costs that would be involved in order to restore the chapel.”
Among the work that had to be done was the replacing of some 1,600 stones, all cut into a custom size to reinforce the floor and basement of the building.
Not only significant to the religious community on the territory, but the building also houses some important historical artifacts. Among those is a plaque that lists the names of those who fought in Britain and Canada’s most significant conflicts and wars. Its grounds is also the final resting place to some of the territory’s most notable figures.
“Without the Native people helping (General Sir Isaac) Brock, there may not be a country called Canada or a province of Ontario,” said Maracle.
That loyalty to the crown shown in the War of 1812 continued well into the next century as Natives served in both the First and Second World Wars.
“Our people volunteered in numbers disproportionate to our population,” said Maracle.
As a sign of gratitude, the British monarch has sent several gifts to Tyendinaga over the centuries, including the honour of designating Christ Church, Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal of the Mohawk as just one of six royal chapels, one of only two located in Canada.
Among the gifts bestowed upon the chapel over the years a triptych which features prayers written in the Mohawk language, a bell given by King George III, a royal coat of arms, a bible from Queen Victoria and a communion chalice, which was donated by Queen Elizabeth II in 1984.
As part of Friday’s celebration, Oakville organist Simon Walker was on hand to play some classical songs on the chapel’s organ, which was restored as part of the restoration project. Toronto violinist Jasiek Romaiewski joined him on stage to play some hymns.
As a token of appreciation, community organizations and individuals who had donated to the interior restoration of the chapel’s bell tower were recognized as well. They included corporate donors Ontario Power Generation, Hydro One Networks, Parks Canada, The Parrott Foundation, The Trillium Foundation and private donors Arlene Benn and the estate of her late husband Vernon Benn as well as David Sharpe.
“Without the work of the committee and support of people in the community, the chapel wouldn’t be usable for anybody,” added Maracle.
The next project for the chapel’s fundraising committee is to raise money to cover the cost of making the front entrance more accessible for the parish’s elderly members.