THE FIRST CHURCHES OF THE ISTHMUS.
THE spiritual interests of the people of old Chignecto have always been
well-looked after. One of the first white men to visit the Isthmus with
a view to settlement was a priest, and the man who wielded the largest
influence in and around Fort Beausejour during the last years of the
French occupation was a priest, the vicar-general of Canada. In more
than one instance the assistance promised to the colonists in Acadia by
the wealthy was provisional upon the conversion of the Indians to
Christianity. During the French period three chapels were erected on
the Isthmus--one at the Four Corners, Tantramar, one at Fort
Beausejour, and one at Beaubassin. These chapels were burned during the
taking of Beausejour and the expulsion of the Acadians. The bell on the
chapel at the Four Corners was buried by the Acadians at the
intersection of two lines drawn from four springs to be seen in that
locality yet. Some years after a party of Acadians, on getting the
consent of Wm. Fawcett, who in the meantime had come into possession of
the land, dug up the bell and carried it to Memramcook. The late Father
Lefebre exchanged it for a larger one. It is believed that the bell
from the Beausejour chapel is the one now used in St. Mark's church,
Mount Whatley. This bell is ornamented with scrolls and fleur-de-lis
and has the following inscription:
AD HONOREM DEI
FECIT F.M. GROS,
A ROCHEFORT,
1734.
The first Protestant ministers on the Isthmus were Episcopalians. Mr.
Woods, a clergyman of that denomination, was at Fort Lawrence in 1752,
1754 and 1756. In 1759 Rev. Thos. Wilkinson was at Fort Cumberland, and
in 1760 it is recorded that Joshua Tiffs baptized Winkworth Allan at
the fort. Between that date and the arrival of Rev. John Egleson no
record has been found. Mr. Egleson was born a Presbyterian, and was
educated for that Church. He was ordained, but afterwards changed his
views, and joined the Anglicans. He was reordained by the Bishop of
London, and sent, in 1769, to Chignecto, by the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
Reference is made in another part of this book to Mr. Egleson's capture
by the Eddy rebels in 1776. He seems to have been the first to take
possession of the glebe lands of the parish, and the farm was for many
years called the "Egleson farm." The parish register containing the
earliest records has been lost or destroyed, so that from the arrival
of Mr. Egleson down to 1794 very little is known of the local history
of the denomination.
In 1794 a meeting was held on the 27th February, at or near Fort
Cumberland, and the following business was transacted: "Messrs. Gay,
Siddall and Brownell were appointed a committee to prepare plans for a
church, to be erected at once on the town plot, and to obtain
subscriptions." The new church was to be 46 feet long and 34 feet wide,
with 19-foot posts. Messrs. Gay, McMonagle and McCardy to be the
Building Committee. This is the old St. Mark's Church, that stood so
long at Mount Whatley. The first list of subscribers were:
William Allen, L3, in pine lumber.
Samuel Gay, L3, in timber.
Ralph Siddall, L3, in timber.
Titus Knapp, L3, in drawing stone.
James Law, L3, in drawing stone.
Jerry Brownell, L1 10s., in timber.
The cost of the church, when finished, was L310. Of this amount the
people subscribed L170. The Bishop of Nova Scotia gave L70, and there
remained a debt of L70.
Having succeeded so well in building the church, a meeting was called,
at the request of Rev. Mr. Willoughby, to provide a house for the
clergyman. His request was granted, and in 1795, Mr. Milledge being
then the resident minister, the church-wardens agreed to pay two-thirds
of the amount of rent for the house in which he was living until the
parsonage was built.
At a meeting of the vestrymen in 1796, the school lands of the parish
were rented to Spiller Fillimore for L7 5s. These lands now bring an
annual rental of $200. In 1810 the church-wardens of St. Mark's church
were:
Amos Fowler. Samuel Gay.
James Ryan. John Trenholm.
Harmon Trueman. Chas. Oulton.
Samuel McCardy. Jas. Hewson.
William Copp. William Tingley.
Geo. Wells. Thos. Trueman.
Bill Chappell.
At a meeting held Nov. 2nd, 1818, it was resolved to take down the
church and rebuild, making the width thirty feet. No reason is given
for this strange proceeding. The contractors for the work were Wm.
Jones, Henry Chapman, and Thos. Trenholm. This building stood until
1880, when a new building of more modern architecture was erected on
the same site, where it stands to-day. The names of the clergymen who
have been resident or had the oversight of the church in Westmoreland
since 1752, as far as can be found, are given below:
Mr. Wood, 1752-6. J. W. D. Gray.
Thos. Wilkinson, 1759. R. B. Wiggins, 1831.
Joshua Tiffs, 1760. G. S. Jarvis.
John Egleson, 1769. R. B. Wiggins.
Mr. Willoughby, 1794. Geo. Townshend.
John Milledge, 1795. Robert Donald
Mr. Perkins, 1805. Richard Simonds.
Rev. C. Milner, 1822. Chas. Lee.
Donald Bliss, 1852-1902.
The following entries referring to church matters are from Mr. Wm.
Trueman's Journal:
"July 26th, 1803--Rev. Mr. Gray preached at the church, from Proverbs 6
c., 3v., 'Humble thyself and make sure thy friend.'" Mr. Gray was
probably a visiting clergyman.
"July, 1806, Oct. 16th--William Allan was buried at the church-yard at
Camp Hill, attended by a large concourse of people. Mr. Milledge
preached a sermon."
"December 25th, 1806 (Christmas Day)--Mr. Bamford preached at Stone
Meeting House (Methodist), and after, Mr. Perkins administered the
sacrament. The house was full of people."
As far as is known there was not a resident Episcopal clergyman in
Amherst until 1823. Christ Church was erected that year on the county
courthouse ground. In 1842, through the efforts of Canon Townshend, a
new church was built on the present site. Rev. J. W. D. Gray was the
first clergyman. The Rev. Canon Townshend came to Amherst in 1834, and
held the rectorship until his death.
METHODISTS.
A letter written from England to Mr. Wm. Trueman, Prospect, in 1776,
asks if the adherents of the Methodist societies have any place of
worship to go to, or do they meet among themselves according to the
usual way of the Methodists. The reply would be that they met amongst
themselves, as there is no record of a "meeting house" until some years
later.
The Methodists of the early Yorkshire emigration at first met quietly
at the home of one of their number for their services. In 1779
religious interest deepened, and a wide-spread revival began. Meetings
were held, followed by encouraging results. Among the new converts was
Wm. Black, of Amherst, afterwards Bishop Black. It is recorded that at
a quarterly meeting held, in 1780, at Wm. Trueman's, Wm. Black received
a great blessing, and although only a young man, he took from that time
a prominent part in the meetings of the neighborhood. Three young men,
Scurr, Wells, and Fawkender, agreed with Wm. Black to visit in turn,
each Sabbath, the settlements of Prospect, Fort Lawrence, and Amherst.
From 1780 until after the first Methodist Conference of the Maritime
Provinces, in 1786, Wm. Black had charge of the Cumberland Circuit,
which included from Wallace (then Ramshag) to Petitcodiac, taking in
Bay Verte and Cape Tormentine. In 1782 the membership of the circuit
numbered eighty-two. In 1786 the first Conference was held at Halifax.
Shortly before Conference Mr. Black, with his family, moved to Halifax,
leaving in his place, at Cumberland, Mr. Graudin, of New Jersey. Mr.
Graudin was sent back to Cumberland by the Conference. He was assisted
by John Black, of Amherst, brother of Wm. Black. In 1787 Mr. Graudin
was removed and his place taken by Mr. James Mann. That year land was
bought on which to build a chapel, and in 1788 the first Methodist
church in Canada was built at Point de Bute. It stood somewhat back
from the road in the present cemetery. The house was of stone, with a
roof of thatch. The following is the deed of the property on which the
house was built:
"This Indenture, made this eighteenth day of September, on thousand
seven hundred and eighty-eight, and in the twenty-eighth year of His
Majesty's reign, between William Chapman, of Point de Bute, of the one
part, and the Rev. Mr. John Wesley, of London, of the other part,
witnesseth, that in consideration of five shillings currency, by the
said John Wesley to the said William Chapman, truly paid before the
sealing and delivering hereof, the receipt whereof the said William
Chapman doth hereby acknowledge and for divers other considerations him
thereunto moving, the said William Chapman hath granted, bargained and
sold, and by these presents doth bargain and sell unto the said John
Wesley and his successors in the Methodist line forever, one acre of
land, situated and lying in the County of Westmoreland, and Province of
New Brunswick, bounding on the west on land belonging to James Law,
Esq., and on the south on the main road leading from Fort Cumberland to
the Bay Verte, together with all privileges to the said premises
appertaining and all the profits thereof with the right, title and
interest in Law and Equity, to have and to hold the said acre of land,
to him the said John Wesly and his successors in the Methodist Line
forever, and to be appropriated for a preaching House and
burying-ground, and other conveniences that shall be judged necessary
to accommodate the same under the inspection and direction of the
general assistant or the preacher by Conference stationed on the
Circuit, together with Wm. Wells, Thomas Watson, Esq., Richard
Lowerison, George Falkinther, Wm. Trueman, jun., Stephen Read, and
James Metcalf to be Trustees to act in concert, and those to be only
Trustees as long as they adhere to the Doctrine and Discipline of the
said John Wesley and his connection, and in case of death or failure of
any of these particulars the preacher is to nominate one in his room.
Furthermore, the said William Chapman, for himself, his heirs,
executors and administrators, doth covenant to and with the said John
Wesley and his successors, the before mentioned demised premises,
against the lawful claim or demand of any person or persons whatsoever,
to warrant and secure and defend by these presents, in witness whereof
I have hereunto set my hand and seal. Bargained year before written.
"Signed, sealed and delivered, in presence of
JAMES LAW, WILLIAM CHAPMAN.
SALLY LAW, JANE CHAPMAN.
"JAMES WRAY, Missionary."
James Wray, and Englishman, ordained and sent out by Wesley, arrived in
1788. He was the first ordained Methodist minister in Cumberland.
Previous to this the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered by
the Episcopal clergyman. This same year Mr. Black, Mr. John Mann, and
Mr. James Mann went to Philadelphia and were ordained. Mr. Mann and Mr.
Wray were both on the Cumberland circuit for a year, and Mr. James Mann
remained in charge until 1791, when he was followed by Mr. Whitehead.
From 1793 until 1797 Mr. Early, Mr. John Black and Mr. Benjamin Wilson
were each at times preaching in the Stone Chapel. Mr. Wilson was alone
in 1798, and assisted by Mr. Cooper in 1799. In 1800 Joshua Marsden
came out from England and was sent to the Cumberland circuit, where he
labored for three years.
The following are from the journal before referred to:
"1802, May 9th--Mr. Marsden preached his farewell sermon at the Stone
Meeting House.
"May 10th--Mr. Marsden set out for Conference."
Mr. Wm. Bennet followed Mr. Marsden, coming directly from England to
Cumberland, arriving at Mr. Trueman's on June 26th.
"June 26th--Mr. Bennet arrived at our house and went to Tantramar.
"27th--Mr. Bennet preached his first sermon at Tantramar.
"July 8th--This day was appointed by the Government as a day of
thanksgiving for the blessings of peace. Mr. Bennet preached at the
Amherst Court-House from Romans 12 c. 1 v. to a crowded and attentive
audience."
The church at this time was in a fairly good financial condition. Point
de Bute was then headquarters for the ministers, it and Sackville being
the most important places in the circuit. Mr. Mann visited Point de
Bute in 1803, preaching at the Stone House on May 2nd, also June 16th.
"June 16th, Mr. Mann preached at Mr. Wells'."
"June 26th--Mr. Mann preached at the Stone House morning and evening to
a crowded house."
Mr. Bennet's place was taken, in 1806, by Mr. Stephen Bamford, a local
preacher sent out from England. he was afterwards ordained and remained
three years.
"July 6th, 1806--Mr. Bamford preached at the Stone House for the first
time."
On June 3rd, 1808, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Black paid a visit to Point de
Bute, making their home at Mr. Wm. Trueman's. It was a great joy to the
church there to have Mr. Black with them again. In 1809-10-11, Mr.
Knowlan was on the Cumberland Circuit, and in 1812 Mr. Bennet returned,
followed by Mr. Dunbar, in 1815.
Mr. Dunbar remained three years and his place was taken by Mr.
Priestly. During Mr. Priestly's stay the new church was built at Point
de Bute. It stood in front of the spot occupied by the old Stone House,
and was opened by Mr. Priestly in 1822.
Mr. Stephen Bamford was on the circuit 1823 to 1825; Wm. Temple in 1826
and 1827; Wm. Webb in 1828 and 1829; Wm. Smithson from 1830 to 1833.
In 1833, Rev. Alexander McLeod was sent to Cumberland as assistant. He
made his home in Point de Bute, and was there most of the time until
1836. Rev. Richardson Douglas had charge of the circuit in 1834 and
1835. Mr. Jos. Bent came in 1836, and the house on the farm now owned
by Mr. Burton Jones was rented for a parsonage. During Mr. Bent's
ministry there was a large revival at Point de Bute, and about sixty
members were received into the church. Mr. Bent was followed by Richard
Williams, who remained two years. In 1840 the Sackville District was
divided, the Point de Bute Circuit consisting of Point de Bute, Fort
Lawrence, Bay Verte and Cape Tormentine. The Cumberland Circuit had
been divided before this (as early as 1830), but the exact date cannot
be found.
Below is a list of the ministers who have been resident in the Point de
Bute Circuit since 1840:
Wm. Leggit, 1840-1842.
Geo. Millar, 1842-1843. Parsonage built.
R. Williams, 1843-1844.
Sampson Busby, 1844-1847.
Wm. Smithson, 1847-1850.
Geo. Johnson, 1850-1853.
Wm. Smith, 1853-1856.
T. H. Davies, 1856-1860.
John Snowball, 1860-1861. Point de Bute Circuit again divided.
Michael Pickles, 1861-1863.
Chas. Stewart, 1863-1865.
Geo. Butcher, 1865-1866.
Robert Duncan, 1866-1868.
Wm. Wilson, 1868-1870.
Jas. G. Angwin, 1870-1873. Present parsonage built.
Douglas Chapman, 1873-1876.
Edwin Mills, 1876-1879.
Geo. W. Fisher, 1879-1882. Present church built in 1881.
Thos. Marshall, 1882-1884.
W. W. Lodge, 1884-1885.
S. R. Ackman, 1885-1888.
Jas. Crisp, 1888-1891.
F. H. W. Pickles, 1891-1894.
J. A. Clark, 1894-1896.
T. L. Williams, 1896-1897.
Jos. Seller, 1897-1898.
D. Chapman, 1898-1901.
Thos. Marshall, 1901.
The first Methodist church in Sackville stood a little north of Philip
Palmer's farm. It was opened in 1790 by Rev. James Mann. Previous to
that date the preaching place had been a small schoolhouse, which stood
near the place where J. L. Black's store now stands. The new building
served its purpose for twenty-eight years. Then another was built at
Crane's Corner, on the same site as the present church.
The following extracts from the Sackville Circuit Book of 1801-1811 may
prove interesting:
"QUARTERLY MEETING.
"POINT DE BUTE, August 28th, 1802.
"(1) _Q_. Who is the general steward for the circuit? _A_. William
Trueman. Elected.
"(2) _Q_. Who is steward for Sackville? _A_. John Fawcett. Elected.
"(3) _Q_. Who is steward for Dorchester? _A_. John Weldon. Elected.
"(4) _Q_. Who is steward for Amherst and the Rivers? _A_. Thomas Roach.
Elected.
"(5) _Q_. How shall Mr. Bennett's expenses to New York be paid? _A_.
Let it be approved by the next Conference.
"(6) _Q_. When and where shall the next quarterly meeting be held? _A_.
At W. Fawcett's, Sackville, January 9th, 1803."
"QUARTERLY MEETING.
"December 3rd, 1810.
"_Q_. Where shall a house be built for the circuit preacher? _A_. In
Sackville, on the lands given by C. Dixon, Esq., and John Harris.
"_Q_. How shall the expenses be borne? _A_. By a subscription begun
first in Sackville.
"_Q_. Of what material shall the said house be built? _A_. Of brick,
except the cellar wall, which shall be made of stone.
"_Q_. Who shall be appointed to provide stone and timber during the
winter previous to the next quarterly meeting? _A_. Charles Dixon and
Rich. Bowser to see it provided out of the subscription. The said
timber to be got for a house 34 by 24.
"_Q_. Shall the collections made in the Stone Chapel go to the
discharging of the debt due to Mr. Trueman for the care of the said
chapel? _A_. Yes, and also to the providing of wood for said chapel."
"QUARTERLY MEETING.
"SACKVILLE, March 9th, 1811.
"_Q_. Shall the minutes of Dec. Q. M., 1810, respecting preacher's
house be agreed to by this Q. M.? _A_. Yes, we are agreed that the
house shall be built upon the grounds given by Messrs. Dixon and
Harris.
"_Q_. Who shall be the trustees of the said house? _A_. John Fawcett,
Jr., Chas. Dixon, Jr., Edwin Dixon, Esq., Rich. Bowser and Thomas
Roach, Esq.
"_Q_. Who shall we employ to build the house? _A_. Chas. Dixon, Jr.,
who has engaged to finish it in a workmanlike manner for L200,
according to plan, N. B., 35 ft. by 24, one story and half high and of
brick."
BAPTISTS.
In 1763 a Baptist church at Swansea, Mass., left in a body and settled
in Sackville, bringing their pastor with them. They numbered thirteen
members. Almost all of them returned to Massachusetts in 1771. The
Baptists were the first Protestant denomination in Sackville, but had
no church building until about the year 1800. That year Joseph Crandall
organized the church, and they at once proceeded to erect a building in
which to worship. The site chosen was at the Four Corners. The church
which replaced this one in 1830 was called Beulah.
The first Baptist association for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia met in
Sackville in 1810. Sackville was represented by Elders Jos. Crandall
and Jonathan Cole, and by Messrs. Wm. Lawrence and Jos. Read. There
were twenty-two elders and messengers present, representing fourteen
churches. Amongst the representatives were Fathers Murray and Harding,
and Peter Crandall, Nathan Cleveland and Elijah Estabrooks. A letter
published in August, 1810, by Rev. David Merrill, in the AMERICAN
BAPTIST MAGAZINE, reports his visit to the Association, in Sackville,
as a member of the Lincoln Association, Maine. He is jubilant with hope
for the new work and exclaims in triumph, "Babylon appears to be in
full retreat." It is said that at a revival service in the Beulah
Church, in 1822, conducted by Fathers Crandall, Tupper and McCully,
twenty-five persons were immersed in Morris's millpond. During the
service a woman stood up to exhort, handing her infant of six months to
a bystander. The woman was Mrs. Tupper, and the infant the future Sir
Charles Tupper. This must have been Sir Charles's first appearance in
public life.
The Baptist Church in Amherst was organized about 1810, or perhaps a
year or two earlier, by the Rev. Jos. Crandall. To the Association in
Sackville they sent two messengers, Thos. S. Black and Wm. Freeman,
reporting a membership of fifteen. The Rev. Chas. Tupper was the first
pastor, ordained in 1817. He had charge of the church, with occasional
relief, until 1851.
The Baptists of Westmoreland did not erect a church building until
1825. The late Wm. Tingley, of Point de Bute, gave the site and also
the largest subscription. The following clause in the subscription
paper is worth transcribing, as showing the liberality in religious
matters which existed at that time. The Presbyterians of Jolicure
assisted in the building, and were given "the right to hold service in
proportion to the amount they subscribed, and when it is not in use by
either Baptists or Presbyterians, if wanted occasionally by other
denominations of Christians, it shall be open and free for such
service." Although the building was erected in 1825 there was no church
organized until 1850.
The first minister was Rev. Willard Parker, and the deacons Rufus
Fillimore and Henry Ward. The ministers who have been in charge from
that date down to the present time are:
William Parker. Trueman Bishop.
John Roe. Chas. A. Eaton.
David Lawson. T. D. Skinner.
W. A. Coleman. J. D. Wilson.
G. F. Miles. H. Lavers.
David McKeen. D. A. Steele.
PRESBYTERIANS.
The Presbyterians were organized and had a church building in Amherst
as early as 1788, but it was not until the Rev. Alexander Clark
arrived, in 1827, that they had a regular minister stationed with them.
Previous to this several ministers had been with them, but only a very
short time.
In the grant of the Cumberland township of 1763 land was given to the
Presbyterian Church on which to build a manse, but there is no existing
record to show that it was ever taken possession of by that body. The
first church in the township was erected in Jolicure about the year
1830. The land was given by Thos. Copp, and the Brownells and Copps of
that place were very active in the work of building. Rev. Alexander
Clark, of Amherst, was the minister in charge of the congregation. Dr.
Clark spent his life in preaching the Gospel to the same people and to
their children, with whom he began his mission when he first came to
the country in 1827 or 1828. His circuit extended from Maccan to
Pugwash, and from there along the Northumberland Straits to Shemogne,
including Amherst, Jolicure, and Sackville. He was a fine type of the
Scotch-Irish minister, who spoke what he believed was the truth,
whatever the consequence might be.
EPISCOPALIAN.
The first Episcopal Church in the Sackville Parish was built at
Westcock in 1817. The rectors have been as follows:
John Burnyeot, 1818-1820.
Christopher Milner, 1820-1836.
John Black, 1836-1847.
T. DeWolfe, 1847-1860.
G. G. Roberts, 1860-1873.
David Nickerson, 1873-1875.
J. D. H. Brown, 1875-1878.
R. J. Uniacke, 1878-1879.
C. P. Mulvaney, 1879-1880.
C. F. Wiggins, 1880-
St. Paul's Church, Sackville, was commenced in 1856, and consecrated in
1858. The late Joseph F. Allison was largely instrumental in building
this church. As the two churches, St. Paul's and St. Ann's, Westcock,
were in the same parish, they were under the charge of one rector.