CHAPTER II.

Growth, 182 7-1851

After the departure of Thomas Adin, William Walker, a re- cently ordained No-va Scotian and graduate of King’s College, Windsor, officiated in St. Paul’s, Charlottetown. In June, 1828, Louis Charles Jenkins left St. Eleanors, against the Bishop’s ad- vice, received the appointment of Rector of Charlotte, and moved immediately to the Capital. Mr. Walker replaced him at St. Elean- ors as missionary, taking up residence in comfortable rooms near the church as no parsonage had yet been built. A year later, June 10, 1829, Governor John Ready wrote to the S.P.G. recommending that the Society grant £50 to the new church at New London, and enclosed the following letter written by Mr. Walker to himself:

Thoroughly convinced that your Excellency has the interests of the Church much at heart, I with the less hesitation solicit your patronage for the Establishment at New London. At my last visit there I opened the New Church when divine service was performed to a numerous and attentive congregation amounting to about 150. With great exertions the building has been brought to its pres- ent state, and even now is barely fit for use in summer.

The frame of the Church, which is an excellent one and of sufficient dimensions to accommodate the congre- gation is roofed and well enough boarded. The floor is laid, the clapboards are prepared, and the Builder is paid for putting them on, which will be done when nails are provided. Mr. Billing, to whose exertion the people are being much indebted, will guarantee the completion of the exterior.

Mr. Walker added that a service was held at New London every third Sunday. It may be interjected here that a cargo of Iron, nails, earthenware, dry goods, thirty-nine live apple trees, and eight passengers, arrived at New London from Plymouth by Billing’s ship Breakwater in June, 1830. The nails may have been used in building the new church.

Mr. Walker reported to the S.P.G. in 1830:

At New London . . . the Church is finished externally. The building is small, and unlike that of St. Eleanors, is suited to the circumstances of the people. The attention he is able to devote to this interesting settlement is well received, and tho’ the Church is in the vicinity of a Pres- byterian meeting house, a respectable and attentive con- gregation is always collected.

The “Presbyterian meeting house” was in all probability, the log building at the harbour. The present “Ge‘ddie Memorial Churc ”, as far as one can learn, was not built until 1835-6.

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