REV. JAMES BULLPIT —— FIRST METHODIST MINISTER

In 1807 the Rev. James Bullpit was sent to “this colony”. He was the first Methodist minister to be stationed on Prince Edward Island. Mr. Bullpit, who had previously spent five years in New— foundland, was peculiarly fitted for the work he had to do among the early settlers of this Island. He lived in Charlottetown with his wife, who soon became a familiar figure as a teacher of the younger generation.

On the 5th of October, 1810, Benjamin Evans, a Charlottetown merchant, conveyed to the Wesleyan Society, a piece of land for the erection of a place of worship —- a chapel, as it was then called. This land was situated on the North side of Richmond Street between Queen and Pownal Streets, just below the corner of the present Royal Bank Building. The property was deeded to Thomas DesBrisay, Paul Mabey, Joseph Robinson, Joseph Avard and Thomas Murphy. Thomas DesBrisay was the first proprietor of the old Apothecaries Hall, now known as the Hughes Drug Store. Paul Mabey was a well—known merchant and at one time the representative for Char— lottetown in the House of Assembly. James Robinson was a United Empire Loyalist. He lived at Brighton Lodge, opposite to Victoria Park. The last of the Robinson family was Jennie, afterwards, Mrs. Howard Hillson —— still lovingly remembered by many Charlottetown friends. Joseph Avard lived on the outskirts of the town at the corner of the St. Peter’s and the Mount Edward Roads. That whole district is now known as St. Avard’s and one descendant, Gordon Avard, is an active member with his wife and family, in Trinity, today.

As Charlottetown was then a mere village and these early residents were themselves only begining to establish homes, «the work of building a place of worship must have entailed considerable sacrifice. However, after much deliberation, they determined to build a chapel, forty by thirty feet, and a dwelling house for the preacher. This was accomplished after a long, hard struggle. This first chapel, small and unpretentious as it was, became the cradle from which grew the strong, sturdy Methodism of a later day. Before the chapel was completed, Mr. Bullpit preached in the old Court House, because it was six years after the land was acquired, before the Chapel was ready for worship.

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