MISSION OF 8.5. PETER AND PAUL

Summerside

In the year 1850 the busy little town of Summerside did not exist. The marshy district where it now stands and which was then known as Wyfigens Shore“, was occupied by farms cultivated by the descendants of U.E. Loyalists, while a few handsome dwelling houses had been erected by gentlemen who, concerned in ship building, found it to their interest to reside in this village. Upon the northern shore of Bedeque Bay, a flourishing ship yarx gave employment to many men, who every spring would come in great numbers from the country districts to obtain work which they found more rennmerative than farming or gishing.

Of these men several were Catholics and as the demand for labour increased in the brisk little sea board village. they came with their families to reside permanently in the vicinity of the ship yard- In the year 1853 so many Catholics families from different rural districts. had settled at Jane's

Shore that it was found necessary to open a mission there. This mission

was attended by the very Rev. James McDonald U.G. pastor of Indian River,

who interested himself to obtain a church for the new settlement. The

people of Indian River had Just completed their new sanctuary, and generously made a present of their old one to their pastor. who superintended its re- moval to "Qneens Shore, or Summerside, as it began to be called. The church was placed on the corner of Fitzroy and Summer Streets, and dedicated to

St. Charles: a sacristy was added to it. and the whole building put in thorough repair. Besides the dwellers in the village at Green‘s Shore, a number of wealthy Scotch farmers, living in Bedeque and in what is called the ”new village" were included in the mission of St. Charles. Father McDonald built

‘ himself a house on Fitzroy Street, which is now occupied by Ir.Robert Holman

in 1859 the old Convent of Notre Dame on the corner of Summer and Convent