In 1918, five Old Boys approached the Headmaster at Appleby College to build a school chapel as a memorial to the eight Old Boys and one Master who died in the First World War. The architectural firm of Shepard and Calvin, Toronto designed the chapel and used lake stone for its exterior walls. Construction began in August 1920 and was completed in fall 1929. It was dedicated on November 7 by the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Niagara.

In 1967, the chapel was enlarged to accommodate a growing student body. The chapel re-opened in spring 1968 as the John Bell Chapel, in appreciation of Reverend Canon John A.M. Bell, Appleby’s third Headmaster. At this time the chapel was dedicated to those from the college who lost their lives in the First and the Second World Wars.