WEST CAPE CEMETERY, CAPE WOLFE, LOT 7 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND Asleep in Jesus Francis Metherall A Father in Israel Pioneer Bible Christian Missionary to This Island Born in Devonshire, England in December, 1791 Entered the Ministry in 1820 Appointed to This Island in 1831 Died in West Cape in Great Peace on June 9th 1875 Aged 84 years

An Eminent Christian and a Greatly Successful Minister, His Name is Fragrant

This Stone is Erected to Perpetuate His Memory By Some of His Many Christian Friends Who Thank God for the Grace That Was Given to Him To finish His Course With Joy, And The

Ministry He Had Received of The Lord. Jesus

27. 1865 - 1883: NEW APPOINTMENTS AND CONTINUED DECLINE

After Rev. Cephas Barker left Charlottetown in 1865, Rev. John Chapple was appointed to fill the vacancy. During Rev. Chapple’s ministry, the member- ship fell to 517 and financial difficulties became an increasing problem. The only building projects continuing were the churches at Lot 7, Murray Harbour Road,

and Cherry Valley.

Rev. John Watson Butcher was assigned to Peterboro, Ontario in 1867 after twenty-four years of work in Prince Edward Island. Only Rev. Francis Metherall has served a longer ministry in the Island than Rev. Butcher.

Rev. John Chapple resigned from the position of superintendent in 1870 and assumed the duties of pastor in West Cape where he stayed for two years. He retired in 1879 and left the Island to settle in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Rev. George Webber became the replacement for Rev. Chapple as Superintendent of the District and pastor of the sixty member Charlottetown church. Rev. Webber faced a great many problems in a deteriorating situation. In most cases, the church buildings were decaying or becoming out of repair in addition to the problems of declining membership and burdensome debts.

For a period of three years (1870 - 1873), great efforts were made to meet these problems. New churches were built at Union Road, Winslow North, Vernon River, and Lot 10. In 1871, a congregation was established in Summer- side with Rev. Henry Newcombe followed by Rev. James H. Collins in 1872, Rev. Edward A. Tonkin in 1876, and Rev. William Medland in 1877.

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