1. EARLY HISTORY

The first Anglican services to be held in the Bideford—Port Hill area were conducted by the Rev. Lewis Charles Jenkins. It was by chance that this gentleman arrived in Charlottetown in late 1820 as his original destination was Quebec. The brigantine Lord Exmouth, on which he was a passenger, was forced back from the mouth of the St.Lawrence River and consequently sought winter refuge in Charlottetown harbour.

During the winter of 1820—21, Rev. Jenkins lived in Charlottetown and travelled to various parts of Prince Edward Island preaching and baptizing. He then journeyed to Quebec as originally planned. In 1823, after two years’ absence, Rev. Jenkins returned to RBI. to become missionary of St.E1eanors for the next five years. During that time, he ministered to the settlement of Bideford as well. In his July 1, 1825 report to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, he advised that he had a congregation of eighty people at Bideford. Six months later he reported that this congregation was continuing to increase and that he hoped to erect a small but convenient church. Rev. Jenkins was unable to continue his ministry at Bideford, however, as he was appointed on June 30, 1828 to fill the vacancy left by Rev. Thomas Adin who had resigned his position at the Charlottetown rectory.

Rev. Lewis Charles Jenkins was succeeded by Rev. William Walker as missionary of St.E1eanors. On July 10, 1829 Rev. Walker wrote to Governor Ready advising that he occasionally visited New Bideford where there was a small but very attentive congregation. Rev. Walker remained for a little over a year and was in turn succeeded by the Rev. Abram V.G. Wiggins. It was in Rev. Wiggins’ report of January 13, 1831 that the name Port Hill first appeared. He stated that he had a monthly service there for a congregation of approximately

one hundred people in a private house. On January 19, 1832, Rev. Wiggins reported: