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What We DoThe Ellis Chapel and its grounds are maintained as a provincial historic site by an active group of volunteers dedicated to preserving its historic and religious significance. The facility is maintained entirely from free-will offerings, rental revenue and special project appeals to the community. The chapel regularly hosts summer services and is available for weddings, christenings and other appropriate ceremonies |
Our History |
Built in 1861 by pioneer settlers and the community in Puslinch Township on land donated by Mary and Edward Ellis, the Ellis Pioneer Chapel holds an amazing sense of history. It's a provincially registered historic site and a place of worship. For forty years the church held regular services before the congregation began to shift to town churches. Eventually the church fell into disuse and the windows were boarded up. A century after its founding, family descendants formed a Board of Trustees and restored the church, after which - in August of 1963 - a service was held in the newly restored building. It is still a place of worship with services held monthly throughout the warmer summer months (May to October). Services are lead by Ministers and musicians from all denominations and the chapel is also available for baptisms and memorial services. They began holding wedding ceremonies thirty years ago for church members and currently opened their doors for the public to rent. The chapel underwent a face lift in 2008 with repainting, gardening and refurbishing in order to preserve the history and update the overall appearance of the chapel itself. A history book about the chapel “Ellis Church - Enduring and Everlasting” created by the late Helen Purdy, a longstanding Ellis board member has been reproduced on line at http://www.clarksoftomfad.ca/EllisChapel.htm |
Organization
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Ellis Chapel Board
Past Chair Brenda Law Chair Barb Hagey Vice-Chair Joanne Bakelaar Secretary Brenda Law Treasurer Joanne Hamilton Trustees Jake Bakelaar, Phil Fletcher, Barbara Hagey Members Rob Black, Barbara Bulmer, Edith Dennis, Sheila Fletcher, Warren Hamilton, Betty Hughes, Gillian Mahnke, Marilyn Murray, Gayle Rice , Eunice Wilson Honorary Members Dorothy Campbell George Campbell Lois Mast |
