An Evening to Remember

The evening began with Minus 100.  Gerry Boyce, the Society's Historian, took the audience back 100 years, both in Belleville and to the wider stage where the storm clouds of the, as yet unforeseen, Great War were gathering. 

But that was only the beginning.  Bruce Bedell, the Society's esteemed Crier and Poet moved us (poetically) back another 200 years to the reign of Queen Anne and the times of the establishment of the first chapel at Fort Hunter.

Then Anne Rector, the Society's Vice-President, formally introduced the topic for the evening's talk, “The 300th Anniversary of the Founding of Queen Anne’s Chapel” and guest speaker, the Venerable Bradley Smith.

Father Brad, a graduate of Queen's University, Kingston, and Trinity College, Toronto, a Priest of the Anglican Church of Canada, Archdeacon of Ontario, Chaplain of the Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment and Rector of Tyendinaga and Chaplain of Her Majesty's Chapel Royal of the Mohawk. And a passionate historian.

Father Brad took us through not just the history of the Chapel Royal itself, but through the background of European exploration and then settlement of Turtle Island (North America) that led to establishment of the Chapel.

A story that spanned 500 years, two continents, clashes of Empires and the revolt that led to the formation of the United States. 

A story of heroes and heroines and of loyalty and alliances that have spanned the centuries.

A story that returns to a place that has captured the interest and patronage of Kings and Queens, Emperors and Empresses: Her Majesty's Chapel Royal of the Mohawk in Tyendinaga.

A lot of history in one evening, and much appreciated by the audience. You can read about Brad Smith's presentation in the October Outlook.