Historic Hamilton is a series of caches that serve to bring cachers to historic places in and around the City of Hamilton. These caches can be placed by anyone, and are not limited to one CO. If you know of a historic place that you would like to bring people to, feel free to add it to the series!
Bowman Church is one of the oldest places of worship in Ontario. The first settlers came to this area about 1793. By 1796 a small settlement had been formed and there was the need for a place of worship. The first church was made of logs and earned the name "sliding church" because of the moving of the church secretly at night because of the disagreement between the Bowman and Hagle families in the area. For a little more on this humourous story, read the 'The Olde Slide' section below. 
Three churches have been built on the site. The first of logs was known as Bowman's Chapel; the second, built in 1845, was destroyed by fire on April 23, 1881. For a year services were held at the Old Zion Church at Garner's Corners until the present church was erected and dedicated on March 2, 1882. 
'THE OLDE SLIDE'
Bowman Chapel was built on the lot line between land donated by Peter Bowman and by Henry Hagle, the latter becoming one of the Ryanite leaders (one of four factions within the Episcopal church) in later years. The Methodist Episcopal services in the Chapel were so disturbed by the Ryanites that it became impossible to continue those services. Therefore, early one morning in about the year 1830, Peter Bowman and a group of his loyal followers, with pike poles, crow bars, levers, and rollers, moved the log chapel over onto Peter Bowman’s side of the lot line. Squire Hagle promptly sued them of 500 pounds (sterling) damages. Dr. John Rolph of Dundas, a former Ancaster doctor and lawyer, was counsel for the Bowmanites, but the jury awarded 5 pounds to Squire Hagle. All was quite for a time, but one morning Peter Bowman awoke to find that the chapel had been moved during the night to Henry Hagle’s side of the boundary. Peter at once summoned his friends and slid the chapel back, but wisely, he slid it only to its original location, on the lot line. This ended the tension, but for many long years after, the chapel was known as “The Old Slide,” or “The Sliding Church.”
One of the reasons I like living in Ancaster is because of its 220+ year history. It was founded in 1793 and is one of the oldest communities in the Province. This cemetery has plots as old at 1816 and is the final resting place for individuals from families whose names are still well known in Hamilton today: Shaver, Horning and Gage. A full listing of the people buried here was compiled in 2002 by Gloria Pare and can been viewed at the 'related web page' link. There are over 452 listings which seems like a big number for the size of this place! The cemetery is now maintained by the City of Hamilton. 