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All Canada Ontario Niagara-on-the-Lake Living Water Wayside Chapel

Living Water Wayside Chapel

Only six people can sit inside this delightfully quaint sanctuary.

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Added By
Lauren Graf
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The Living Water Wayside Chapel.   laurenmishgraf / Atlas Obscura User
The Living Water Wayside Chapel.   laurenmishgraf / Atlas Obscura User
The Living Water Wayside Chapel.   laurenmishgraf / Atlas Obscura User
The Living Water Wayside Chapel.   laurenmishgraf / Atlas Obscura User
The Living Water Wayside Chapel.   laurenmishgraf / Atlas Obscura User
  paulruta / Atlas Obscura User
Church   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Sign   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Inside   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  raesluvnlyf / Atlas Obscura User
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About

This charming chapel is a tiny sanctuary for tourists seeking a moment of peace and respite from the road. From the outside, it looks more like a child's playhouse than an active church.

Local tourist guides claim the Living Water Wayside Chapel holds the Guinness World Record for world's smallest chapel. However, according to the Guinness World Record website itself, there is "no current record holder" for that title. Even without the official title, at about 72 square feet, the chapel is still delightfully quaint.

The chapel was originally built in 1964 by the Niagara Falls Christian Reformed Church. It was meant to serve as a worship space for tourists in the region. The structure was moved in 2012 to its current location for renovation, but it is unclear who currently manages the chapel. No website exists for the church or the congregation.

After ducking your head down while entering the archway, you'll see that the inside of this miniature worship space holds four short pews as well as two Bibles and a guest book. Visitors can say a quick prayer in the chapel and walk next-door to Walker's Country Market for fresh produce. Weather-permitting, every Easter guests can join a sunrise worship at the chapel. The space is also available for intimate wedding parties of about six people.

Related Tags

Churches Architectural Oddities Architecture Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

This is a quaint stop for tourists bound from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Niagara Falls and is open to visitors 24 hours a day.

Community Contributors

Added By

laurenmishgraf

Edited By

staceykenny11, paulruta, Jason Michael Walker, raesluvnlyf

  • staceykenny11
  • paulruta
  • Jason Michael Walker
  • raesluvnlyf

Published

May 25, 2019

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Sources
  • https://www.toniagara.com/blog/smallest-chapel-world/
  • http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMN5EJ_The_Living_Water_Wayside_Chapel_Niagara_on_the_Lake_Ontario
Living Water Wayside Chapel
15796 Niagara Pkwy
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, L0S 1J0
Canada
43.226778, -79.058928
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Old Fort Niagara

Youngstown, New York

miles away

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Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Niagara-on-the-Lake

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Photo of Niagara-on-the-Lake

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