Dundas in Hamilton, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Rock Chapel

Photographed By Tim Boyd, June 25, 2023

1. Rock Chapel Marker

Inscription.
This is the original site of Rock Chapel, a frame building erected in 1822. First known as Cummings Chapel, it was built by local members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and later taken over by the Wesleyan Methodists. The Reverend Egerton Ryerson, the famous educator, was among the circuit ministers who officiated here. A new church was built nearby on Rock Chapel Road in 1876. The original church served as a polling station and in 1922 a centennial service was held there. The building was demolished in 1948 and an oak baptismal font, made from its timbers, was placed as a memorial in the present Rock Chapel Church.

Erected by Rock Chapel United Church

Erected by Rock Chapel United Church.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1822.

Location. 43° 17.77′ N, 79° 56.014′ W. Marker is in Hamilton, Ontario. It is in Dundas. Marker is on Rock Chapel Road, 0.3 kilometers south of Valley Road, on the right when traveling north. The marker is in the community of Rock Chapel, in the historic township of West Flamborough. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hamilton ON L9H 5E2, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Dundas Driving Park: A Focal Point In Dundas For Over A Century (approx.

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3.1 kilometers away); The Desjardins Canal (approx. 3.3 kilometers away); a different marker also named The Desjardins Canal (approx. 3.5 kilometers away); The Founding of Dundas (approx. 3.5 kilometers away); McMaster University 1887 (approx. 3.9 kilometers away); The Dundas Town Hall (approx. 3.9 kilometers away); Desjardins Canal Disaster (approx. 3.9 kilometers away); Sir William Osler in Canada (approx. 4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hamilton.

Also see . . . Chapel on the Rock (part 3). From the Flamborough Heritage Society archives

From the first days of settlement, the Methodist church was central in the lives of the Rock Chapel community. The congregation was one of the earliest to be established at the Head-of-the-Lake and although there was no church building for worship until 1822, services were held in the open when the weather was fine, and adjourned to the barns of Daniel Cummins or Isaac Smith when it was not. A small parcel of land was purchased from Daniel Morden Jr. by the Trustees of the
Photographed By Tim Boyd, June 25, 2023

2. Rock Chapel Marker, looking north
Methodist Episcopal Church and a wooden barn-like structure was erected on a rocky ledge at the escarpment edge – hence the name ‘Chapel on the Rock’ or Rock Chapel, which came to be adopted.

(Submitted on June 25, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Rock Chapel Marker, looking south image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Boyd, June 25, 2023

3. Rock Chapel Marker, looking south

The original Rock Chapel, 1822 (photo date unknown) image. Click for full size.

4. The original Rock Chapel, 1822 (photo date unknown)

Source: Flamborough Heritage Society

The present Rock Chapel United Church, 1876 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Boyd, June 21, 2023

5. The present Rock Chapel United Church, 1876

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 25, 2023, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.