Records were not kept when the Circuit was organized. However, the necessity for such records must have been recognized, as Rev. A.D. MacLeod began the first Registry for the Methodist Church in 1893. In the book he records many unfamiliar causes of death. A number of these causes would not be considered critical in today’s scientific world. A few of these include - consumption, internal trouble, brain trouble, paralysis of the heart, pain in the blood

vessel, and La grippe. The first mention of a person suffering from (cansar - sp.?) cancer was in 1897.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, lack of employment resulted in the mass exodus of men and women from the area. The end result was that the Methodist congregation, severely depleted in congregational leaders and members, voted to join with the parishioners in a newer church across the road. The union of many Protestant churches took place in 1925.

The church was later sold to DJ. MacLeod to be used as a garage. He moved it to a site adja- cent to the family store. In 1978, it was demolished by the Department of Highways to make way for the widening of the present highway and bridge approach. The area was seeded and another part of the village heritage disappeared.

iBreghptertan (Thumb in Qtanaha

The settlers from Scotland took their faith with them and were strict about the teachings which they expected each family member to follow. Bible verses and the catechism were memorized. However, the families felt that their efforts were poor substitutes for a settled clergyman. Following the same pattern as other churches before them, requests were made to the homeland for assistance. It was to no avail. The settlers were dependent upon the Pictou Presbytery for guidance until 1791. This meant that many settlers had been on the Island for at least twenty years before a resident clergyman came. Rev. James MacGregor describes his first attempt to preach at Princetown (Malpeque). He preached for one hour in Gaelic and another hour in English. He describes it as an occasion similar to a country fair. He says that . .I desired them to sit down and be silent. . .I called for silence a second and a third time... I read so loudly as to drown their voices and after a little had the desired effect. .

No doubt the assembly period served as an appropriate occasion for neighbours to meet and dis- cuss mutual problems. After such a long time without church services or neighbourly contact, they had practically forgotten their respect for the written Word of the Bible and the Clergyman. However, for many in attendance, it was certainly an historic occasion. Sixty children were

christened that day. Dr. MacGregor made many trips from Pictou to St. Jean’s Island, between 1791 and 1806.

Sometimes he stayed for extended periods of time, but always returned to Nova Scotia. It is known that in 1806 he conducted services at the home of James Simpson, BayView, for the res-

idents of that area. By 1826 with the increases in population along the Malpeque/New London Bays, most of the

areas were divided, similar to today’s groupings The new clergymen were able to settle and work more closely with the residents in more defined areas.

In 1862 a change was made by the Pictou Presbytery. This decree permitted. the CavendiSh and Stanley Bridge area to become a separate division. For a short time the servrces for the Stanley area were held in the Campbellton School. Shortly after this the adherents of the Presbyterian Church began making plans for their own church. They purchased %0 acres of land from

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