In 1853 Bethel Chapel was built on a small corner of land given by John Prudham, an early pioneer of this district, for the sum of 3 pounds, 15 shillings.   Situated on Lot 5, Concession 1, New Survey, Nelson Township, Bethel Chapel is one of the few original Methodist churches still remaining. It is now located officially within the City of Burlington. 
 
During the summer of 1853, a simple frame structure to be known as Bethel Chapel, was built by the local adherents of the Canadian Wesleyan Methodist New Connexion Church. William Bousfield provided the timbers for the chapel to be erected, and also split the shingles at his mill in Tally Ho. This softly rolling land must have reminded the pioneers of the England they had left behind. In many ways, even now, it still would.
 
Bethel Chapel served its congregation with regular services for only a short time. In 1874, a church union, of the Canadian Wesleyan Methodist New Connexion Church with two other Wesleyan Methodist group took place, to form the Methodist Church of Canada. As a result of that union, Bethel Chapel was closed in favour of churches on the Lowville and Carlisle circuits.
 
Bethel Chapel remained closed for the next 60 years, until the mid 1930's, when the grandson of John Prudham, Charles A. Prudham, together with the direct descendants of the area's pioneers, helped to preserve this little chapel and cemetery. The Board of Trustees, including Charles Prudham, Elmer Foster, A.J. Harris, George Coverdale and William Vollick, was formed to be in charge of the chapel. The building was painted and a fence was installed, donated by Harvey Prudham of Galt, grandson of John Prudham.

Laura Dixon, (1907 – 2003) great granddaughter of John Prudham,
dedicated the following poem to the early pioneers who settled in this area:

 In a little church by the wayside,
Its rafters old and bare,
I stood today in quiet thought
Its solitude to share.
 
No lofty spire, no church bells pealed,
Nor did musicians play
To beckon worshippers within
That sacred place to pray.
 
No rich adornment they beheld,
No stained glass windows rare,
Yet grace and deep devotion lived
Within those who worshipped there.
 
‘Tho now in silent vigil
The tombstones seem to guard
The graves of those who worshipped there
Within that old churchyard.
 
They are not dead who built it thus.
Their names forever stand,
The bulwark of our nation
The founders of our land.

 
And everywhere their works still live.
Unlike other churches of its time that remained active, and from time to time were renovated and improved,
Bethel Chapel remains as an historical record of its beginnings.

Unlike other churches of its time that remained active, and from time to time were renovated and improved,
Bethel Chapel remains as an historical record of its beginnings.

When the 100th anniversary of Bethel Chapel was celebrated in 1953, the Board of Trustees consisted of Gordon Coverdale, Elmer Foster, Arthur Harris, Ross Harbottle, and treasurer, Harvey Prudham.
 
Many descendants of early pioneers are buried here. The churchyard shows changes over the years in the style of stones. There are elegant stones and there are small ground markers.

The original wooden pews have been scraped and painted after being used in the Kilbride Community Hall for some time,
and are now in place again on the wide pine board floor.

Regardless of style, through the years each stone has opened the floodgates of memories of loved ones. Even for those with no loved ones buried here, the stones have messages.

Although the chapel was not built until 1853, there is a grave for the infant daughter of David and Elizabeth Steuart, dated July 13th, 1851.

John Prudham's great grandson, Harvey, donated more burial space in 1969, which is mainly restricted to families of the district.

In 2002, Bethel Chapel received the honour of a Heritage Award from Burlington's Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC), now known as Burlington Heritage.
Quoted from the Hamilton Spectator at the time: “Keeping a frame structure like this is excellent authentic condition for 150 years is a testimony to the strength and integrity of many generations – not only its first builders – but also those who have continued to build it anew for the generations yet to come."

In 2002, a workshop on the Heritage of Ontario Cemeteries was co-sponsored by Heritage Burlington LACAC and the Ontario Historical Society. One of the presentations was a virtual tour of 25 heritage cemeteries in Burlington; of these, none was more admired by the workshop participants than the pioneer cemetery of Bethel Chapel.”

Once every year the descendants return to pray, to sing, and afterwards to wander among the gravestones and think about what life must have been like in rural Halton County in the 1800's. Remarkably, many families still live in the area.
 
Through the annual service and the generosity of the descendants, the graveyard and the small chapel have been kept in excellent condition. The original walls of lathe were plastered in 1975 and painted in 1976. The walls have been repainted in 1988 and a steel roof was installed in 1993. The Bible of 1866 was restored in 1996. The collection plates have been donated in the memory of James and Olivia Ayton and George and Alice Coverdale..
 
It is also remarkable that Ron Coverdale maintained the grounds since 1950. 2014 marked his 65th year of care and love for these very precious grounds.

In 2003, the Board of Trustees consisted of: John Pegg, Betty Essig, Ron Coverdale, Donald Coulson Sr., Bruce Coverdale, Tom Foster and Margaret Coulter.
 
In 2008, we completed further expansion of the cemetery. The land was donated by the current owner of the old Prudham farm, Mr. J.E. Allan.
 
The Bethel Chapel is a Designated Property as officially designated in 2015 by the Burlington City Council under the Ontario Heritage Act.
 
Those sitting on the Board in 2024 were Ron Coverdale, Jackie Cooper, Don Coulson, Anne Koopman, John Hepburn, Patti Marquardt, Donna McMullen, Brian McMullen, John Pegg, and Tim Wheeler.