COFFM Elam

MISSION OF ST. MICHAEL

CORRAN BANN

St. flhchael's, Corran Ban. forms a portion of Township Thirty Five. It comprises Stanhope, Grand Tracadie. and Mill Cove. The early settlers of this mission were from Moidart. Scotland, being a portion of the colony brought out by Captain John MacDonald of Glenaladale.

In Grand Tracadie all the residents were Catholic, up to 1859. since which time five Protestant families. principally fishermen, have established themselves there. In Mill Cove also, the dwellers were all Catholic until 1873 when three Protestant families bought farms in that district.

When. in lEEC, the late Rev. John Lhcrbnald arrived from Glasgow with a large body of Irish emigrants. his mother, relict of the late Captain John heDonald, of Glenaladale. gave him place in her house at St. John's Point, Grand Tracadie, for a large chapel. the first in that whole TOWnship. This chapel Served the entire locality for some years until the building of the existing church of St. Bonaventure at the Head of Tracadie.

When, in 1882, Corran Ben was divided from Tracadie Mission, the present church was begun by the Rev. Thomas Phelan and was finished in l88h. It measures 50 x.30 feet and was built on ground given by the purpose by the late John (James) hacDonald of Tracadie. This church possesses a very beautiful wooden altar. made by Mr. Patrick Power of Charlottetown. It is of the Gothic style of architecture. and is painted white and violet. The panels are of imitation Sienna and Irish Marble.

The edges of the altar and the carved ornaments on the sides of the arches are richly gilt. The carvings in the upper portion of the altar are inlaid with imitation marble. The painting which is tasteful. was done by Mr. beikle.

The gaelic name Corran Ban. which means in English white Sickle, was given

' to that part of the mission which lies by the shore of the Bay of Tracadie and

the banks of winter River. The bestowal of this name is probably owing to some