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A Chapel Built in 1840. A Legacy Still Being Written.
The Chapel has stood through generations of stories, and today it welcomes couples beginning a new one.
Cannon Smith Sr. (1782-1843)
Built in 1840, The Chapel is one of those rare places that feels meaningful the moment you step inside. Its walls have witnessed generations of quiet moments, community, faith, celebration, and love. Today, our family is honored to care for this historic space and continue its story by opening the doors to couples beginning their marriage. We believe a wedding venue should be more than beautiful. It should feel grounded, personal, and full of meaning. When you choose The Chapel, your wedding day becomes part of a legacy that began long before us and will continue long after.
Where History Holds Your Vows
When you step through the doors of The Chapel, you are stepping into nearly 200 years of meaning.
Imagine how many lives have passed within these walls.
How many brides have walked this aisle.
How many families have gathered in joy and prayer.
Though photographs from 1840 may not exist, the spirit remains — steady, enduring, sacred.
This chapel has stood through generations.
And now, it stands ready for you.
The History of How The Chapel Came to Be
Smith’s Chapel, also known as The Chapel, is a historic chapel located at 29858 Redfield Road in in Cass County (near Edwardsburg, Michigan). It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1979 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The chapel is the oldest known church building in Cass County, and probably the oldest in southwest Michigan. Cannon Smith, the son of George and Sophia Cannon Smith, was born in 1782. He settled in Beardsley's Prairie (now known as Edwardsburg) in 1829 after moving from his previous home in Delaware. In 1831, traveling Methodist circuit preachers established classes at Smith’s home. This led to the organization of the first Methodist church in Milton Township in 1839.
In 1840, the congregation hired James Taylor, a carpenter and joiner, to construct this church building at a cost of $1200. Cannon Smith donated the land, and contributed substantially toward the construction of the church. Because of these contributions, the church was named “Smith’s Chapel”. The surrounding cemetery grounds were purchased in 1872. In 1879, contractor W. S. Beswick was hired to remodel the church. The church was used regularly until 1967, and in 1972 Milton Township purchased the structure. In 2008, the chapel underwent substantial restoration. As of 2013, the township owned the chapel, with the surrounding cemetery grounds owned by a non-profit organization, Smith Chapel Cemetery Inc. The Chapel was purchased in early 2019 by the McHenery's and again in 2025 by Michele Wegner-Mather. Michele and her family have fallen in love with The Chapel and plan to continue on the long and cherished history of its use as a wedding and funeral venue.
