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Bishop MacEachern

Bishop MacEachern came to Prince Edward Island in 1790 from Scotland. He was only 14 years of age when his parents came to P.E.I. and he remained in Scotland to be educated by Bishop Hugh MacDonald.

In 1777 he went to Spain to study at the Royal Scots College, was ordained a priest in 1787, and returned to Scotland as a Missionary before coming to the Island.

He made his headquarters at Savage Harbour and built a large stone house which served as a residence and a chapel. He had charge of the total population of the Island for some years.

In 1800 he moved to St. Andrews where he built the first cathedral on the Island. He also built St. Andrew's College.

Until about 1823 the people of West River, now Kingsboro, brought their children to Bishop MacEachern to have them christened.

He became Bishop of Charlottetown on August 11, 1829.

After a long life of extensive labour, he was seized at St. Peters with a stroke. It was his wish to be taken back to his own house at Savage Harbour where a few days later, on April 22, 1835, in his 76th year, he passed to his reward. He was a man who was held in high esteem and respected by everyone who knew him.

Mrs. John Kennedy and Mrs. James MacDonald

Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. MacDonald travelled on foot down the north shore of the Island to Three Rivers, a distance of over fifty miles, to secure a pastor. The second day, they arrived at St. Andrews and spent the night at the home of Bishop MacEachern. The following day, on arriving at Lot 48, they had the opportunity of hearing Rev. Alexander Crawford preach and were very impressed. They asked him to accompany them back to East Point.

Rev. Crawford held special services and these two devoted women were the first to go forward for baptism.

Other preachers visited the community and held meetings until in 1832, the settlers began to plan for the first church edifice.