HISTORY OF THE CHURCH ‘

Our church history dates back to two great Methodist leaders in England: John and Charles Wesley-and several Methodist missionaries who were sent out from England to look after the religious' needs of the people in this largely unsettled island. Benjamin Chappell in Charlottetown and Theodore- Wright in Bedeque~Tryon area were responsible- for securing .Methodist missionaries to win new converts.and to gather Uethodists into congregations.

In 1859 the Methodists in Bedeque recommended" that a missionary. the Rev. Robert Wilson, be sent to the area along the coast between West Cape and North Cape. As a result of these efforts9 the settlers, many of whom were originally from Bedeque and Tryon, were formed into a mission.in 1860 with the Rev.WiUian C. Brown as pastor-of thirteen preaching places and according to the earliest records Elmsdale was one of those preaching places. Three years later. in 1863 it was recommended that West Cape Circuit be divided with a separate preacher for Cascumpec, K.ild are, Tigfish, and other places. In 1867 the single title ”West(hpd' appears with Rev. C. W. Dockrill as Superintendent and, 'according to the record of the earliest ministers to serve the Methodists of the Alberton area were:

Rev. C. W. Dockrill (1867—69) and in 1869 Rev. J. G. Bigney. In 1870 the title ”West Cape’ is replaced by “’lberton" with .Rev. J. G. Bigney as pastor (1869~ 72). He was succeeded by Rev. L. S. .Johnson (1872« 75) under whOSe leadership a Methodist Society was formed in Alberton in 1872. According to the Quarterly Board .. Minutes for August 16, 1375; ”A young.man, the Rev.‘ Aquila Lucas_is expected to be here in October 1875. His threewquarter salary is estimated at $150.00 and his board at $66.00. It is thought that friends will lend him horses for journeys to save expenses to the circuit (1875— 78). ”, In 1879 during the pastorate of the Rev. Joseph Sellar land for the construction of a church in Elmsdale was obtained in 1880 from Mr. Malcolm Matthews. From the records in the Alberton Wesleyan Methodist Register 1867—90, Book 1, we find the first.Marriage,.Nov.,13. 1880, Charles Morgan,