2. OLD ST. JAMES'

Old St. James’, or the "Old Shipbuilders’ Church" as it was known, was erected in the year 1841 by the original English settlers with the assistance of a grant of 150 pounds sterling from the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. In a letter dated August 18th of that year, Bishop Inglis advised the Society that the church had been built. Later that year a missionary by the name of Rev. William Roche was appointed to Port Hill. The completion of the little church and the coming of a resident missionary was due to the loyalty of the congregation, the assistance of the Venerable Society, and the support of the absentee proprietor, Admiral Sir George Seymour. On June 5, 1842, Admiral Seymour reported to the Society that he had received a letter from Rev. William Roche which stated that, although the church had been erected, it was incomplete with respect to furnishings. 180 pounds had been spent on the exterior without the steeple and 35 pounds of this sum was still owing. In order to complete the structure, 155 pounds would be needed.

Old St. James’ was consecrated on Friday, June 23, 1843 by Rt. Rev. John Inglis, Bishop of Nova Scotia. Rev. Inglis was a son of the famous Bishop Charles Inglis, the first Anglican Bishop of any overseas diocese of the British Empire. At the time of the consecration, Port Hill was a thriving centre of the shipbuilding trade. The settlement had previously depended on

rectors from St.John’s Church in St.Eleanors to conduct services.