UNITED CHURCH, CRAPAUD

The first Methodist Church in Crapaud was a small log chapel seating about 30 people. It was built by the first settlers in 1826.

This Chapel was erected at Lower Crapaud, the site of the present Crapaud Cemetery, on land donated by Christopher Smith, under date of September 5, 1826. The names of the trustees were2— Cecil Townshend, John‘Leard, Sr., George Wigginton, Robert Wilson, Stephen Wilson, Isaac Trowsdale and Robert Hudson.

A new Church was built on the same site and opened on the 30th. day of August, 1840. The Preacher at this opening service was Rev. Wm. Smith of Charlottetown. The first ordained minister to carry on preaching in this Church was Rev. Jas. Bulpitt. The trustees of this new church were John Lane, Wm. Inman, Thomas Myers, John Lock, Charles Beer, George Wigginton, and Stephen Wilson. This Church was later moved to DeSable, presumably in 1877, when the Westmoreland Church was moved to Crapaud Village.

p » .On March 13, 1860, at the quarterly Board meeting of the Tryon- .Bedeque circuit, it was resolved that the brethren of Upper Westmoreland have‘the unanimous sanction of the meeting for the erection of a Wes— leyan Chapel. This Church, it is believed, was erected that same year (18.60) on land leased to the Methodist Church by Samuel Leard and his wife. The trustees were.— John Lock, George Leard, George Wigginton, . James Best, Joseph Crew, Thomas Wigginton, George Percival, Lloyd French, and William Sobey.

- » In 1873 Tryon was organized into a separate circuit from Bedeque, . at .which time it consisted of Tryon, Mt. Tryon, Westmoreland, Crapaud, and Cape Traverse.

On June 16, 1877, land was acquired in the Village of Crapaud from George Howatt, to which this Church from Westmoreland was moved; where it was entirely renovated and beautified by a Spire. This is the present United Church.

. . Rev. Thomas Deinstead was the first minister in this Church. The writer has no record of whom the trustees were at this time, but some of the known Methodist families were. Howatt, Bentley, Trowsdale, Myers,‘ Lowther, Leard, Nicholson, Best, Simmons, Callbeck (Mrs. Wesley Call- beck believed to be the first organist in this Church), 0. B. Wadman,t MacLean, MacQuarrie, and Richard Cameron, who was Recording Steward for the circuit from 1893 - 1916, also Sec’y-Treasurer of Crapaud Church.

In 1893 the Tryon circuit was again re—arranged —— Cape Traverse ’Was attached to Bedeque, leaving Tryon, Victoria, Crapaud, DeSable, Augustine Cove, Mt. Tryon, and Appin Road. Rev. J. K. King, minister at this time, followed by Rev. G. W. Fisher, the same year.

On July 31, 1911 Cornelius Lowther deeded his house and lot to Rev. W. A. Thompson (a native born son of Crapaud) and his wife for their lifetime; and then to the Methodist Church. On June 9, 1924, the Methodist Church sold their interest in this property, the proceeds of which were applied to the purchase of the lot knOWn as the “Mark Trows- -dale Place,” adjoining the Church property, for the erection of a horse shed upon said lot. Pastor at this time was Rev. G. N. Somers.

At all times it has been the endeavourof the members to keep their Church ina condition worthy of a place of worship. In 1913 electric