GRACE CHURCH

In the year 1871, it was thought advisable to extend the opera-

tions of the Methodist “Society” in View of the fact that the First Methodist church was making such rapid strides in the extension of its work. So the Free Church building, then situated on Euston Street and facing Prince, was rented for a Mission Church and Sunday School. This new venture showed such signs of growth from the beginning that in 1887, a new church was erected on Upper Prince Street later known as “Grace Church” and was opened with ap- propriate services on the 14th of October of that year. Seven years later, it was found necessary to enlarge this new church building to accommodate the growing congregation and a wing was added. This church, until the year 1883, worked in connection with the First Church and under the same Quarterly Board. (The ministers in charge of this second Methodist Church on Euston Street from 1871— 1882 were: Rev. Robert MacArthur, Rev, William Penna, Rev. Robert Crisp, Rev. William Fletcher, Rev. George Steel, Rev. G. M. Campbell, Rev. William Tippett and Rev. J. W. Wadman).

In 1883 the union of the Methodist bodies took place and the congregations of the Bible Christian Church and the Upper Prince Street Church united to become one congregation.

The first Bible Christian Society of 13 persons was formed in Charlottetown 25th January 1857 —— with preaching in the Temper- ance Hall —- a building afterwards used as the Wesleyan Kindergarten and later still the Guardian office. The first church built in 1858 was opened the end of August. This building is still standing on Prince Street and is occupied by Aylward’s Furniture Store. The. first pastor was the Rev. S. H. Rice, who, at the time of the Union, was in charge of the Bible Christian Church. From that time the Upper Prince Street Methodist Church became an independ- ent congregation and with its own Quarterly Board, conducted its

own business.

Because of the amalgamation with the Bible Christians the Church was known by several different names by the public. Finally, after much deliberation, the name “Grace Church” was settled upon, February 10th, 1897. This was confirmed by the Conference that same year. The membership at the time was two hundred and thirty-three, with a hundred and seventy worshipping families and a Sunday School membership of three hundred and twenty-five. The Superintendent of the Sunday School was Dr. Josiah H. Ayers and the Recording Steward of the Circuit, Mr. James Carter. An Epworth League was also formed with meetings each Sunday.

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