By Pamela J.Minns
Nestled away in our small village of Beaverdams is one of our heritage jewels called the Beaverdams Methodist Church. 
A wooden structure built 1832, the building and graveyard were designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act in 1994. It has been recognized by the Province of Ontario through the Archaeological & Historic Sites Board of Ontario on June 20th, 1965 during the church’s 133rd anniversary.
The Ontario Government was represented by Wm. Armstrong of the Historic Sites Board and the Hon. James N.Allan whose ancestors are buried in the Beaverdams churchyard.
Built in the meeting-house style, it is one of the oldest remaining methodist chapels in the province. The Reverend Egerton Ryerson, who later was primarily responsible for the founding of this province’s education system, was the first minister to preach in the chapel. If the chapel was completed before the end of 1832, he undoubtedly preached there more than once, as he was, along with Joseph Messmore, a presiding minister of the new St.Catharines circuit during that year.
Rotting front door and walls of church display heritage plague.
The church is a two-and-a-half storey, hand-dressed timber frame structure. The frame has a clapboard covering and the building was constructed on a shallow rubble stone foundation laid in a lime/sand mortar. The building, with its grand and opulent pediment, yet simple rectangular, almost shoe box shape, is typical of the primitive Vernacular Greek Revival style found in Ontario.
Several personalities well-known in church and provincial history were connected with the Beaverdams congregation during the early years of its existence. The Reverend Daniel Ward Eastman, one of the earliest Presbyterian “saddle-bag” ministers in the area, is regarded as the founder of the Presbyterian Church in the Niagara Peninsula. He moved to Beaverdams about 1802 and was a minister at the “old German church” from 1802 to 1815. Two poems have been written about the old Methodist chapel at Beaverdams – one by Clara Beamer for its 110th anniversary in 1942 and one by Mrs. T.Kempson in 1943.
Decaying back of historic Niagara church. All photos by Doug Draper
This old church has many significant associations with both the early history of Methodism in Canada and the early history of this province, and the remarks of its former pastor, the Reverend W.R.Parker M.A. given at the re-dedication service for the chapel in September 1879 seem even more appropriate today. His hope was “….that instead of giving way to a more modern structure, this church may be zealously conserved and perpetuated as a Canadian landmark, and a historical monument of the zealous liberality of the pioneer fathers of Methodism”.
Over time its congregation dwindled and while other churches grew, it fell out of use and its condition today is deplorable. This old building is now crying out for help to prevent further deterioration.
These buildings are important parts of our Canadian history and, although being recognized by the province and municipality, there is no funding available to come to the aid of this old church, and many of us in this community have grave concerns about its future.
(Pamela Minns is a resident of Thorold, Ontario and member of Thorold Heritage LACAC, dedicated to protecting and preserving heritage sites. She is also involved with other groups fighting to preserve historic sites across the Niagara region.)
(Click on http://www.niagaraatlarge.com for Niagara At Large and news and commentary on other matters of interest and concern to our greater binational Niagara region.)
Niagara At Large 
Pamela Minns is to be commended for this fine article. What went on in Beaverdams Church is of great signficance to Ontario history. Discussion here, led by Ryerson, were critical to the development of provision of free public education, which led to remarkably high standards of literacy in the province, by the time of Confederation. The significance of this event, is better understood, when the problems of countries that still lack what Ontario achieved in literacy in the mid-19th century are understood- terribly high rates of infant mortality, low life expectancy, and very often, the inability of democratic governments to function in a stable and peaceful manner.
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So what to do?
As a founding member of LACACin Port Colborne, I value this heritage.
But where do we find a group to maintain sucha building? Niagara Parks Commission? Parks Canada? A private family? Who owns it now?
Notice that I omitted the United Church of Canada (descendant of the Methodists), because ALL churches are declining. Beaverdams Methodist is likely the first of the decline.
(You’ve seen the Globe & Mail articles about the predicted extinction of Anglicans, followed by Presbyterians – 2 of the 3 major sects that helped found and develop Canada.)
What will happen after our Churches disappear? Will we miss them? Do you think Non-Profits can replace them?
-w-
Maybe this is just part of our Niagara attitude toward Canadian heritage. Look at the official plaque marking the site of the Battle of Beaverdams in Thorold:
1 km west of the original site,
on a park,
where we’ve buried the 3rd (?)Welland Canal!
A friend once pointed out that nearly every park/wild area in Niagara is sited on the remains of a former industrial/agricultural activity. Hardly anything remains in its natural state (except perhaps parts of Point Abino, in the Glen, or under the Escarpment).
Perhaps we get the government we deserve.
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The Beaverdams chapel is currently owned by the Trinity United Church in Thorold. They are working with the Town of Thorold on a restoration plan, but it is moving forward very slowly. Trinty United Church is to be commended for maintaininig this chapel, which they use for a service once a year. To do an adequate restoration, they need support from the Town of Thorold and more volunteers. I believe that as part of this effort, that Thorold will assume ownership.
Regarding the negative article in the Globe and Mial about the future of the Christianity in Canada, what the skeptical author failed to recognize is that their have been past ebbs in the history of the church before, notably in the 18th century, which were reversed through a revival powered by the Holy Spirit. The Beaverdams chapel is a good example of this religious revival of the Victorian age, which help bring to Canada many blessings such as free public education, and later led by Christian reformers such as Tommy Douglas and the CCF, health care.
Ms. Minn’s article is trying to inspire more people to get involved in the cause of restoring this important chapel, including the Thorold Town Council.
It is true that most of our natural areas in Niagara, with the exception of a few old growth forests ( yes, there are these in Niagara such as Paradise Grove and Marcy’s Woods and Point Abino), were farmed in the past. However, we should see the fact that these areas have been re-naturalized as a great blessing, as a tribute to humanity’s redemptive ability to repent from sin.
In this regards, as fine role was played by a long time member of Trinity United Church, the late Mel Swart, who fostered the creation of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority in order to speed up the redemptive healing of the earth, from man’s foolish ways.
While we may get the government we deserve, the good parts of what we get are heavily due to the patient work of sincere Christians such as Mel Swart, working aganist terrible odds, through the efforts of the CCF-NDP.
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