bISSION OF ST. COLUMBA

EAST POINT

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Towards the close of the last century several Catholic heads of families from the Highlands of Scotland settled on the north eastern shore of Prince Edward Island. On their arrival they found the extreme East Point occupied by an old soldier from the Lowlands named Peebles; another lowland settler nansd John Ford ultimately Joined them. and they had a later addition to their ranks in the person of John Broh. an Irishman from Dublin and uncle to the late Archbishop Hughes of New York.

In the year‘l§9§. these people set about building their first church which was a log structure. thirty feet in length by twenty five in width. The builder was one John Campbell. commonly called Ian Mor. or Big John. As there were no saw mills accessible at the time, the boards for the church were all prepared by hand, and in lieu of shingles. the roof was covered with two tiers of boards. The first grave yard of the mission which was used some years before the church was built. was on the farm of the late Duncan Campbell about five chains from the beach.

The second church which was erected between the years 1822 and 1825. was a frame building. fifty feet in length by thirty in width. It was also built by Ian Nbr. The inside of this church was ceiled and painted and was furnished with a gallery. The painting was done by the father of the late Mr. George Thresher of Charlottetown.

In 18h6 it was found necessary to build a larger church for the mission of St. Columba. and the present edifice was commenced during the pastorate of Rev. Pius McPhee. Ronald Ban MacDonald of Big Cape was the builder. The dimensions are eighty feet in length by fifty in breadth; height of post. thirty four feet.

The Spire rises to an altitude of one hundred and twenty feet. The chief part

of the inside work of the church was done by the Messrs. Carroll of Charlottetown.