CHAPTER V.

Five Pastorates 1875-1900

A young Englishman, Obadiah Samuel Newnham, was ordained to the diaconate in St. Luke’s Church, Halifax, in late September, 1875, and took charge of New London Parish soon after. With four month’s work behind him he reported to the C. & C.C.S. that he was giving one Sunday service to each of the three churches, a week night service at Kensington, an occasional service at the Ponds. He commended those who joined heartily in the responses but pro- nounced the singing “very indifferent.” The period of his diaconate extended into 1877, but with great difficulty he prepared for his priest’s examinations, passed them successfully, and was ordained on Trinity Sunday of that year.

Mr. Newnham was the first New London incumbent to attend the diocesan synod of Nova Scotia in Halifax. The synod had been incorporated by an Act of the Nova Scotia legislature in 1863, but it was not until 1876 that Prince Edward Island was given repre— sentation. The Reverend O. S. Newnham attended in that year, and in 1878. No layman attended until 1884 when William Profitt repre- sented the parish.

From Mr. Meek’s time it had not been easy to keep old St. Thomas’s Church in repair. Mr. Richey planned for a new church and schoolhouse as soon as he arrived in 1863. Two years later he referred to the dilapidated condition of the church. Bishop Binney refused to confirm in it, preferring the newer, neater church at Irishtown. Mr. Cox wrote in 1872:

The congregation here long talked of repairing this build- ing, but they could never agree to set about it, until it is now believed to be unworthy of repairs. There is some hewed timber on the grounds for the frame of a new church, but for the want of funds to proceed with it, it has lain there until it is ready to decay. There is a movement now being made to raise some money to have it framed during the coming spring, but I fear it will require many years to‘complete it, if it is ever done.

In the next year, 1873, Mr. Cox reported that some steps had been taken towards the erection of a new church upon the old site; “and of this as a commencement, a public tea party had been got- ten up in June, $200.00 being realized.” He proceeded:

Acting on the advice of the Bishop he had left the building of the new church entirely with the congregation of St. Thomas, who, in reference to this matter, have maintained a strong determination to proceed in accordance with their ,

own plans and purposes.

Record also remains of another tea party which raised $260.00. 37