Christ Church, Her Majesty's Chapel Royal of the Mohawk

and

Christ Church 1843

There are two plaques at this location.
Both can be seen on this page.

Photo by contributors David & Kellie Clifford - Posted April, 2009

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

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.

Photo by contributors David & Kellie Clifford - Posted April, 2009

Plaque Text

The Mohawks, allies of the British during the American Revolution, settled permanently in Canada following that conflict. A party led by Capt. John Deserontyon landed here in 1784 and constructed a chapel shortly thereafter. The church's historic Communion Plate is part of a gift presented to the Mohawks in 1712 by Queen Anne. In 1798 King George III gave to the chapel, which became known as a "Chapel Royal," a triptych, bell and Royal Coat-of-Arms. The first permanent chaplain, the Reverend Saltern Givens, was appointed in 1831 and, during his incumbency, the present structure was built by the Mohawks in 1843. Although damaged by fire in 1906, Christ Church appears today essentially as originally constructed.

Related Ontario plaque
Her Majesty's Chapel of the Mohawks

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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 honoring 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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