The Old Slide
After the War of 1812, the flow of American settlers dwindled and British settlers were encouraged to come to Upper Canada. The British preferred Wesleyan Methodist ministers. This caused friction with the American Methodist Episcopal ministers. Henry Ryan was one who broke away and formed the Canadian Wesleyans or Ryanites.
Bowman Chapel was built in Concession 4 on the line dividing Lot 50, the land of Henry Hagle, a Ryanite, and Lot 51, the land of Peter Bowman, a Methodist Episcopal. The Methodist Episcopal services were so disturbed by the Ryanites that it was impossible to continue them.
Peter Bowman devised a plan to thwart the Ryanites.
Early one morning, about the year 1830, Peter Bowman and a group of his followers slid the log chapel over into Lot 51, Bowman's side of the lot line, using pike poles, crow bars, levers, and rollers. Henry Hagle then sued Peter Bowman for £500 for damages. A court case ensued but the jury awarded only £5 to Hagle.
All was quiet for a while until one morning Peter Bowman awoke to find that the chapel had been moved to Henry Hagle's side of the line, completely in Lot 50. Peter Bowman alerted his friends and slid the chapel back, but this time stopping in its original position on the lot line.
For many years after the chapel was known as "The Old Slide" or "The Sliding Church".
In 1845 a new brick chapel replaced "The Old Slide". It was erected in the same location on the lot line. Following the dedication of this new chapel "The Old Slide" was moved to the farm of Crowell Smith at Southcote where it was used as a mission house.
This brick chapel served its congregation until April 23, 1881, when Wesley Spohn, a grandson of Peter Bowman, and his friend Elgin Smith were burning off dead grass in the adjoining cemetery. A gust of wind blew some burning grass onto a shed beside the chapel and both structures burned to the ground.
The stewards were quick to take up a subscription for replacing the structure and another brick church, which still stands today, was constructed in 1881. It was dedicated on March 12, 1882.
This Methodist chapel, in 1925, was brought into the union which formed the United Church of Canada. Today it is known as Bowman United Church.
The Circut Rider Ministry
The beginning of Ancaster Township saw small settlements of newcomers squatting on land around springs and creeks which would afford them a supply of water for themselves and their livestock. One of these settlements was along what is now called the Tiffany Creek. It is referred to as the Bowman District.
The Methodist Church served these settlements with "circuit rider ministers" who rode on horseback to tend to the needs of the settlers and perform sacraments. Each of these ministers had a group of settlements or
"classes" to tend to and travelled in a circuit. The Bowman class was part of the Ancaster Circuit.
The Bowman class was started in 1796 under the leadership of Rev. James Coleman. The class meetings, or services, were held in the homes of the members of the class. The minister was also accommodated by one of the families during his stay.
The members of that first Bowman class were:
Ann Smith 1752-1830, wife of John Smith 1747-1846
Peter Bowman 1762-1849, wife Magdalena Lampman
Jacob Smith 1768-1848, wife Susannah Beam
Joseph House 1768-1831, wife Rebecca Horning -1813
Edmund Smith 1766-, wife Mary
Isaac Horning 1766-, wife Charity Kribs
-1845
Abraham Horning 1764-1845, wife Margaret 1771-1831
Duncan Spears, first leader
These names appear on a marble plaque installed in the church in 1924 to commemorate the early years of Bowman Church.