In 1858, British immigrant John Monk and his sons set about built a school on a Shady Grove property, near Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills.
Later, this building and the surrounding land, including a cemetery, were gifted to the Unitarian Church of South Australia and converted into a branch chapel.
On Christmas Eve 1865, the Rev. J. Crawford Woods, from the larger church, officiated at an opening event.
From the chapel's founding in 1865 to 1881, Francis Duffield was the first official lay leader of the Shady Grove congregation.

Today, the property is heritage listed with the South Australia Heritage Register.
The property remains primarily virgin scrub and grows many wildflowers.
A dedicated team of bush care workers meet regularly to maintain the property.
The Shady Grove chapel is still used regularly by a small but active congregation.
In 1858, British immigrant John Monk and his sons set about built a school on a Shady Grove property, near Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills. Later, this building and the surrounding land, including a cemetery, were gifted to the Unitarian Church of South Australia and converted into a branch chapel. On Christmas Eve 1865, the Rev. J. Crawford Woods, from the larger church, officiated at an opening event. From the chapel's founding in 1865 to 1881, Francis Duffield was the first official lay leader of the Shady Grove congregation.
Today, the property is heritage listed with the South Australia Heritage Register. The property remains primarily virgin scrub and grows many wildflowers. A dedicated team of bush care workers meet regularly to maintain the property. The Shady Grove chapel is still used regularly by a small but active congregation.
Unitarian Church of South Australia