HISTORY OF WEST COVEHEAD CHURCH

The shield at the door of this Church reads, "The first b. established Presbyterian Church in Prince Edward Island." Occasional visits from Dr. MacGregor, who at one time or J another visited all Island settlements was the only ministerial service received until the arrival in 1800 of the Rev. Mr. Urquhart, a minister of the Church of Scotland. Using Princetown as his headquarters, he was the first to establiSh any organized church. He was a true and faithful Christian missionary. Rev. Mr. Urquhart served the congregation faithfully until his de-

parture in 1802 for Miramichi, N. B. A short time after his arrival

at Miramichi, he died as a result of an accident.

Mr. MacGregor drove out the Covehead Road, the first road on P. E. I. and stayed for two weeks, to preach in Covehead, probably in house or school. From here he went to preach in Malpeque.' Through Mr. MacGregor's efforts the Presbytery of Nova Scotia set up the first official Presbyterian congregation in P. E. I. at West Covehead in 1806. This first charge was extensive indeed - Covehead, St. Peters and Fortune! In those days, travel was mostly by water along the shore, so the first church was built near the Bay shore on the land of Mr.

Donald MacMillan.

When better roads were built, the church was moved a mile inland to the lane leading to the property now owned by Mr. McCann near the

school.

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