and good men. For his teaching talents he was awarded the Governor - General 's Medal. He married Edith Stanley of Charlottetown , and three daughters were born to them:— Frances, Gertrude, and Edith. In 1894, Mr. Thomson was ordained into the Maritime Methodist Conference, having taken his theology extra-murally and alone. While serying in the Tryon Charge in 1908 - 1912, he was stricken with a progressive illness. He and his family retired to Crapaud , where they lived for some years before moving to Charlottetown . He died there in 1938. Mr. Thomson was a devoted friend, a loyal Pastor, and a poet of distinction. His poems were of such beauty that he was referred to as "the Island Tennyson." His poem, "The Ploughman" was placed first in a Canadian wide contest in poetry in 1918. ^^ THE PARISH OF CRAPAUD The earliest record of the Parish of Crapaud was taken from the P. E. I. Register , August 30, 1825:— "We are informed that the inhabi¬ tants of Crapaud and its neighbourhood are about to erect by subscription, a small Church or Chapel for Divine Worship; for the use of Christians of all persuasions:— the Established Church to have the preference. The building will be light, with a steeple, gallery and altar; and the situation chosen is beautiful." Construction of the building began in 1841, on lands given by the Countess of Westmoreland . In the minute book of the Diocesan Church Society, November 3, 1841, there is a record of thanks to the Countess for her donation of £200 towards the erection of a Church at Crapaud . From the same source it is learned that, in 1842 the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel ( S.P.G .) made a grant of £150; together with £200 from the Countess of Westmoreland , for the erection of a Church at Crapaud commenced the previous year. The new Church was equipped with a Chalice, Paten and Flagon in Sterling silver; the necessary Altar Linen; an appropriately embroidered Altar Cloth, for the proper Celebration of the Holy Eucharist; hangings for the pulpit and reading desk; and a complete set of books for the same, all through the generosity of the Countess of Westmoreland . The first Rector of the Parish was the Rev. J. Herbert Read, who began his ministry there in September 1843. According to the first Baptismal Register the parish was then known as Hillsborough . The Church then, as now, was known as the Church of St. John the Evange¬ list. The Rev. R. T. Roach came to Crapaud in 1852, and left in 1854 to , go to Georgetown . In 1854 the frame of the Rectory was raised. In 1854 the Rev. D. B. Parnther became Rector, and was able to move into the completed Rectory the following year. Records for this date show that nine candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation at the hands of the Right Rev. Hibbert Binney , Lord Bishop of Nova Scotia . Mr. Parnther left the Parish in 1859 to go to Charlottetown . The report of 1863 records the Ordination of Mr. Wilkins , and his appointment; but as he made no entries in the register it is uncertain as to whether he actually came to the Parish. The Rev. H. Sterns was appointed in October 1864, and was suc¬ ceeded in August 1869 by the Rev. H. Sargent . During Mr. Sargent 's tenure of office the monthly Celebration of the Holy Communion was ■4 69 )§►••