Work progressed on the new church and another encouraging report was submitted by Rev. Henry Harper in 1896:

The new church at Ellerslie has been completed on the outside with the exception

of putting in the windows. Already this little Church is an object of admiration,

and reflects much credit upon the workmen, Messrs. H.W. Williams and E.

England. A considerable amount of money is yet needed to finish paying for the

work already done, and also to complete the inside. Still we hope that before

another year rolls around we shall have the church completed and also free of

debt.

The following year, work slowed down due to the shortage of funds. A rough floor was laid so that a lecture could be given by Mrs. John Richards. An interesting account of her trip to California realized a profit of approximately twenty—five dollars which was credited to the building fund. Later on, another lecture to benefit the fund was given by Rev. J .T. Bryan. He spoke on "Things That Interested Our Forefathers", using a Magic Lantern to show pictures related to his topic.

Approximately three hundred dollars was realized from a tea party in July of 1897. This profit was intended to pay off the existing debt as well as to provide for completion of the church interior. Since the committee did not have enough money on hand, it was decided to postpone the work until additional funds could be raised. The church was used for services on alternate Sundays until the weather became too cold. By 1898 Rev. Henry Harper was able to present the following exciting report to the Diocesan Church Society:

The new church at Ellerslie is almost completed, and will be ready for opening

in a few weeks. We cannot speak too highly of the very excellent work that has

been done by Messrs. H.W. Williams and E. England. The church is indeed a

little gem and it is hoped that it will prove to many to be indeed the house of God and the place of comfort and refreshment for their souls. As we are yet in need

of money to pay for the completion of the work, any donation will be thankfully

received. Still we must not forget to express our hearty thanks to those who have

already contributed in any way.

The expert craftmanship of Messrs. H.W. Williams and Edward England is best described in HM. Scott Smith’s The Historic Churches of Prince Edward Island (The Boston Mills Press, 1986). Edward England, who donated the land for the church, had erected the frame and completed some of the interior woodcarving of the building. The bulk of the finish

work was done by Henry W. Williams, better known as "Little Harry". He was a native of

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