9. RECENT EVENTS

A recent event of significance in the Parish of Port Hill was the May 1987 Bicentennial Cross Pilgrimage. This was part of the celebrations to recognize the 200th year since the 1787 appointment of Charles Inglis to Nova Scotia as the Church of England’s first colonial bishop. Bishop Inglis was born in Glencolumbkille, Ireland in 1734, and died in 1816 at Aylesford, Nova Scotia. Previous to his appointment as Bishop, he had become an influential dissident of the American Revolution in New York City.

The Diocese of Nova Scotia initially included the provinces of Quebec, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. In its early years, the church was experiencing internal weaknesses and external competition. Bishop Inglis used patience and discretion to overcome opposition from his clergymen. He travelled as much as possible within the Diocese to foster a stronger commitment from all Church of England members.

A news release on the May 1987 pilgrimage follows (name and date of periodical

unavailable):

The Bicentennial Cross pilgrimage to the Parish of Port Hill, P.E.I. began on a chilly May 10 evening in the parking lot of a shopping mall 21 miles from the parish. At 9:15 pm, 20 parishioners met with representatives of the Parish of New London to receive the cross and to bring it by motorcade to the Church of St. James’.

Upon arrival at St. James’, a service of the Order of Compline was held. Despite the fact that farmers around Port Hill were busy preparing their lands for planting, a prayer service the next morning was well attended. An evening service was also held that day which included hymns, the Bicentennial Litany and the presentation of the video on Bishop Inglis.

On May 12, the cross was moved to St. Peter’s Church at the other end of the parish by recently confirmed members of the congregation. The Bicentennial Litany was said, several hymns were sung and the video was shown again.