Beaverdams in Thorold in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Beaverdams Church 1832

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 18, 2024

1. The Beaverdams Church 1832 Marker

Inscription. Early in the 1790's a group of settlers in this area had been converted to Methodism and formed a Class which, in 1795, was included in the newly-established Niagara Circuit. Services were held in the home of a prominent local settler, Israel Swayze, and camp meetings took place on his property. This church, one of the oldest remaining Methodist chapels in the province, was built in 1832. The Reverend Egerton Ryerson, who later was principally responsible for the founding of this province's educational system, was the first minister to preach in the chapel. The building was renovated extensively in 1879 but but regular services were discontinued about 1890.

Erected by Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1795.

Location. 43° 6.314′ N, 79° 13.099′ W. Marker is in Thorold, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Beaverdams. It is on Marlatts Road 0.2 kilometers east of Beaverdams Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 0 Marlatts Rd, Thorold ON L0S 1E6, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Old Beaverdams Burying Ground (Smith Cemetery) 1801 (about 210 meters away, measured in a direct line); Sir Edward Wentworth Beatty 1877-1943 (approx. 2.3 kilometers away); Lock 25 - Second Welland Canal 1841-1845 (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); The Founding of Thorold (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); The JB Stone (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); In Memory of John Bean, Ph.D., M.D. (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); Beaver Dams (approx. 2.4 kilometers away); In Memory of Unknown American Soldiers (approx. 2.4 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thorold.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Griffiths House c. 1922 (was approx. 0.4 kilometers away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Inside the restoration of Beaverdams Church (Thorold Today).

Back in 2014, a group of motivated Thorold residents bought Beaverdams Church from the City of Thorold. Since then, the 'Friends of the Beaverdams Church' have been hard at work restoring the building to its former glory.

“It’s going to turn out to be an excellent performance space,” says the president of the Friends group, David Cowan, while showing off the work-in-progress to ThoroldToday. “We’re restoring it with the original interior, which means it’s two storeys high, so the acoustics are going to be excellent when we’re done.”

(Submitted on November 21, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 18, 2024

2. The Beaverdams Church 1832 Marker

1925

3. The Beaverdams Church in 1925

Source: Library and Archives Canada (public domain)

The Beaverdams Church, restored interior image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 18, 2024

4. The Beaverdams Church, restored interior

The Beaverdams Church, 2024 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, November 18, 2024

5. The Beaverdams Church, 2024

Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 301 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on September 16, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 21, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.