Christ Church Royal Chapel
Encyclopedia
Christ Church, Her Majesty's Chapel Royal of the Mohawk is located near Deseronto, Ontario
, and is one of only six Royal chapels outside of the United Kingdom
, and one of two in Canada
(the other is Her Majesty's Chapel of the Mohawks
near Brantford, Ontario
). It was designated as a national historical site in 1995, and is administered by the Anglican Parish of Tyendinaga, Diocese of Ontario. It was elevated to a Chapel Royal
by The Queen
in 2004.
The history of the chapel begins with the forced relocation by American revolutionaries of the Tyendinaga Mohawks from their indigenous lands in what is now upper New York
State to lands provided by King George III
in recognition to their service to the British during the revolutionary war. They settled in the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory
on the shores of the Bay of Quinte
in 1784.
Built to symbolise the political and military alliance between the British Crown and the Mohawk Peoples
, and to house a number of gifts given to the Mohawks by the Royal Family
over three centuries, it was built by the Mohawks themselves in a simplified Gothic Revival
style in 1843. The new church replaced a wooden structure which had been built near the site when the Mohawks arrived in 1784. The style, popular in the mid 19th century, is demonstrated in the narrow lancet window
s and dripstones, stepped piers on the tower and flanks of the nave, and crenellations and pinnacles on the spire, all contributing to an overall sense of verticality common to gothic architecture.
The Royal chapel is in regular use as a parish church of the Anglican Diocese of Ontario
. While not housed in the chapel, on special occasions, a silver Communion
set given by Queen Anne
in 1711 as a symbol of the alliance between the Crown and the Mohawks, is displayed and used. Also, there is a triptych in the Mohawk language and a bell given by King George III
, a Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom given by King George V
, and a bible given by Queen Victoria
. A communion chalice was given by Queen Elizabeth II
in 1984 to mark the bicentennial of the coming of the United Empire Loyalists, including the Mohawks, to Ontario. In addition, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
also presented a set of eight silver handbells to the Chapel Royal in 2010. The chapel also houses a memorial window given by Dr. Oronhyateka, who is buried at the Royal chapel.
Plaques commemorating the service of Mohawks during the First
and Second
World Wars hang in the chapel, demonstrating the continuing bond between the Tyendinaga Mohawks and the Crown.
The Chapel Royal has undergone major restoration work in recent years.
Deseronto, Ontario
Deseronto is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, in Hastings County, located on the shore of the Bay of Quinte. The town had a population of 1,824 in the Canada 2006 Census.The town was named for Capt...
, and is one of only six Royal chapels outside of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and one of two in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(the other is Her Majesty's Chapel of the Mohawks
Mohawk Chapel
Her Majesty's Royal Chapel of the Mohawks, the oldest building in Ontario, is one of six Chapels Royal outside of the United Kingdom, and one of two in Canada, the other being Christ Church Royal Chapel near Deseronto, Ontario. It was elevated to a Chapel Royal by Edward VII in 1904...
near Brantford, Ontario
Brantford, Ontario
Brantford is a city located on the Grand River in Southern Ontario, Canada. While geographically surrounded by the County of Brant, the city is politically independent...
). It was designated as a national historical site in 1995, and is administered by the Anglican Parish of Tyendinaga, Diocese of Ontario. It was elevated to a Chapel Royal
Chapel Royal
A Chapel Royal is a body of priests and singers who serve the spiritual needs of their sovereign wherever they are called upon to do so.-Austria:...
by The Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in 2004.
The history of the chapel begins with the forced relocation by American revolutionaries of the Tyendinaga Mohawks from their indigenous lands in what is now upper New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State to lands provided by King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
in recognition to their service to the British during the revolutionary war. They settled in the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory
Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Ontario
Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory is an 73 km² Mohawk First Nations reserve on the Bay of Quinte in southeastern Ontario, Canada, east of Belleville and immediately to the west of Deseronto...
on the shores of the Bay of Quinte
Bay of Quinte
The Bay of Quinte is a long, narrow bay shaped like the letter "Z" on the northern shore of Lake Ontario in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is just west of the head of the Saint Lawrence River that drains the Great Lakes into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
in 1784.
Built to symbolise the political and military alliance between the British Crown and the Mohawk Peoples
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
, and to house a number of gifts given to the Mohawks by the Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
over three centuries, it was built by the Mohawks themselves in a simplified Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style in 1843. The new church replaced a wooden structure which had been built near the site when the Mohawks arrived in 1784. The style, popular in the mid 19th century, is demonstrated in the narrow lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
s and dripstones, stepped piers on the tower and flanks of the nave, and crenellations and pinnacles on the spire, all contributing to an overall sense of verticality common to gothic architecture.
The Royal chapel is in regular use as a parish church of the Anglican Diocese of Ontario
Anglican Diocese of Ontario
The Diocese of Ontario is a diocese of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario of the Anglican Church of Canada, itself a province of the Anglican Communion. Its See city is Kingston, Ontario, and its cathedral is St. George's, Kingston...
. While not housed in the chapel, on special occasions, a silver Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
set given by Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
in 1711 as a symbol of the alliance between the Crown and the Mohawks, is displayed and used. Also, there is a triptych in the Mohawk language and a bell given by King George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
, a Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom given by King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, and a bible given by Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. A communion chalice was given by Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in 1984 to mark the bicentennial of the coming of the United Empire Loyalists, including the Mohawks, to Ontario. In addition, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
also presented a set of eight silver handbells to the Chapel Royal in 2010. The chapel also houses a memorial window given by Dr. Oronhyateka, who is buried at the Royal chapel.
Plaques commemorating the service of Mohawks during the First
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and Second
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
World Wars hang in the chapel, demonstrating the continuing bond between the Tyendinaga Mohawks and the Crown.
The Chapel Royal has undergone major restoration work in recent years.
See also
The Crown and the First NationsExternal links
- Parish of Tyendinaga Website
- Christ Church Royal Chapel website
- Parks Canada website
- http://www.heritagefdn.on.ca/userfiles/HTML/nts_1_5676_1.htmlOntario Heritage Trust Christ Church Royal Chapel 1843 Constructed by its Mohawk congregation to replace an earlier log chapel, Christ Church houses part of the communion plate that had been given to the Chapel Royal at Fort Hunter, New York by Queen Anne in 1712. The bell presented to the church in 1798 by George III has since been recast.]