Near Brantford in Brant County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Grand River Mission

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 10, 2026

1. The Grand River Mission Marker

Inscription. In the early 1820's, the Rev. Alvin Torry was appointed by the American Methodist Society to minister the people of the Grand River Valley. Beginning at Port Maitland he travelled upstream establishing missions on the way and by 1822 arrived in the area where the present Salt Springs Church survives. Members of the Mohawk Nation who were already familiar with Christianity, with the Mohawk Chapel nearby, were eager recipients of his full time ministry and helped to erect a wooden church on land where they already had a cemetery and which is still part of the Haldimand Tract afforded to the Haudenosaunee allies of the British Crown. Prior to the building of Salt Springs Church, an active mission was established further upstream in a settlement named Davisville, led by Chief Davis of the Mohawk Nation.

Loyalist settlers and recent immigrants who began to occupy the Tract joined the congregation, which grew in number through the efforts of George and William Ryerson. After 1834, occupation of the Haldimand Tract lands shifted to favour the settlers, and the Haudenosaunee members of the congregation vacated the area and built

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another church on the south side of the Grand River, under the leadership of Confederacy spokesman James Givens.

In 1860 the wooden structure was replaced by a brick building which was further replaced by the present structure in 1902.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1822.

Location. 43° 5.957′ N, 80° 12.778′ W. Marker is near Brantford, Ontario, in Brant County. It is on Salt Springs Church Road 0.9 kilometers south of Brant County Road 18, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 61 Salt Springs Church Road, Brantford ON N3T 5L9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hamilton-Halton-Brant Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

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

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 10, 2026

2. The Grand River Mission Marker

On the cairn at the centre of the photo

(Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Original Canoe Landing for the Mohawk Village (approx. 3.3 kilometers away); Tomb of THAYENDANEGEA (approx. 3.3 kilometers away); Her Majesty’s Chapel of the Mohawks (approx. 3.3 kilometers away); St. Paul’s 1785 H.M. Chapel of the Mohawks / St. Paul’s 1785 Chapelle Royale des Mohawks (approx. 3.3 kilometers away); Mohawk Village (approx. 3.4 kilometers away); The Mohawk Institute (approx. 3.9 kilometers away); John Hicks Whale (approx. 4.7 kilometers away); The Invention of the Telephone/ L’Invention du Téléphone (approx. 4.8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brantford.

The Salt Spring Church and cemetery in 2026 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, May 10, 2026

3. The Salt Spring Church and cemetery in 2026

Credits. This page was last revised on May 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 13, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 13, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.