Early Religious History.

In the early years of the 18th. century, Queen’s county was divided into five sections denominated parishes. Brackley and the surrounding districts of Harrington, Brackley Point, and the Stanhope—Covehead area, were contained in the parish ”Charlotte”. The Rev. Theophilus DesDesBrisay, aged 20, was appointed minister of Charlotte parish by Royal Warrant dated Sept. 21, I774.

The conditions which confronted him were such as might have dismayed an older and more experienced man. There was no church, no provision made for his food and shelter, and there was no prospect of obtaining any payment on account of his stipend. Consequently, the Rev. DesBrisay sought refuge on one of His Majesty’s Ships of War, taking duty as a chaplain, and visiting Charlottetown as opportunity offered.

In I777, the British government decided to assume the responsibility for paying the salaries of the principal officials. Under such conditions, the Rev. DesBrisay took up residence on P.E.|. and entered fully upon his duties. The first entry on the parish records dates, Aug., 1777.

The Rev. DesBrisay was born of exiled French Huguenot stock in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland. He was the son of Thomas DesBrisay. Thomas arrived on P.E.I. in the autumn of I779, in the position of Lt. Governor. Had he remained in authority, he would doubtless have strengthened the Rector’s hands and something might have been done towards erecting a church. As yet, and for many years to come, the only place available was a room in a Mr. Richardson’s house that was fitted up to serve the purpose. However, eight months later, Lt. Governor DesBrisay’s reign was terminated and Governor Patterson returned and resumed control.

In 1781, the parish of Charlotte was regularly constituted by local statute. This statute provided that the parishoners should meet on Tuesday each year and elect ”six of the fittest and best qualified men in the parish”, to be vestrymen. One of their most important duties was the support ofthe poor. To this end, they were empowered to levy a rate to be fixed by a meeting of all the inhabitants of the parish, called especially for that purpose.

On March I4, 1823, the Rev. DesBrisay died at 69 years of age, and so closed the first establishment of the Church of England in P.E.I. In the fall of that same year, the Colonial Church and School Society was founded in England. It had for its obiect the establishment of Sunday and Day schools served by its missionaries and Catechists at which were taught, free of ‘charge, the fundamental truths of Christianity. However, it wasn’t until Jan. IO, 1845, that any missionaries came from England and stationed at

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