Discover Ontario's history as told through its plaques
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Christ Church, Her Majesty's Chapel Royal of the Mohawk
Photo by contributors David & Kellie Clifford - Posted April, 2009
Photo from Google Street View ©2010 Google - Posted December, 2010
Plaque Location
The County of Hastings
Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory
On South Church Lane at street #52
1.5 km from Highway 49 via east on Bayshore Road (Road 16)
then north on South Church Lane
Coordinates: N 44 11.122 W 77 04.420 |
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Plaque Text
This handsome church attests to the remarkable historic alliance of the Mohawk people with the Crown. Loyal Mohawks, who sacrificed much in their support of the British cause, came here after the American Revolution. They built a log church nearby, which Christ Church replaced in 1843. Royal gifts over the years have honoured this extraordinary relationship and in 1904 King Edward VII conferred the title, "His Majesty's Chapel". This Gothic Revival church was severely damaged by fire in 1906. Restored at Mohawk expense, the chapel stands today as a symbol of their enduring regard for the Crown.
Other plaques at this location
Christ Church 1843
Oronhyatekha 1841-1907
Oronhyatekha (Peter Martin) (1841-1907)
Related Ontario plaque
Her Majesty's Chapel of the Mohawks
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Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory Plaques
Here are the visitors' comments for this page.
> Posted February 8, 2011
This church was designated "His Majesty's", as the text notes, not "Her Majesty's", in the title of the plaque. Curiously, historic royal designations vacillate with a change in the gender of later monarchs. In an effort to remain contemporary, the practice obscures the original title, and is not historically accurate. -Wayne
> Posted January 22, 2011
The text of this plaque blurs distinctions. The "historic alliance" was to the British crown, and "their enduring regard" suggests continued overseas affection. Or do they mean the Canadian crown? The two states (crowns) are different, Canada having become independent of its colonial master. Yet the lexicon of monarchism persists--"historic alliance", "extraordinary relationship", "enduring regard". I don't suppose this was written to quell recent anti-crown Mohawk solidarity that resulted in protests and closure of the US-Canada border in the region. Ancient Mohawk loyalty to Britain should not be interpreted as fawning admiration for the Empire. Their alliance was a pragmatic attempt to preserve a way of life that disappeared anyway, in part due to treaties broken by the crown. Mohawks would have been loyal to the United States if it offered greater hope. Still, there's a pungent air of anti-US smugness between these lines that sadly plays to Canadian inferiority, as if honouring overseas loyalty does Canada any good. Plaques from the early 20th century were sometimes written with pro-British hyperbole [see page on The Coming of the Mohawks]. It's disturbing to find a modern one written in a similar tone. -Wayne
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