& L Finn 's; Clmrcl) - 2|ope JXtber The area, which first constituted the mission of St. Ann 's, Hope River , was settled between 1819-1830 by Irish immigrants, chiefly from the counties of Wexford and Kerry . Descendants of Acadian settlers also formed part of this congregation. As there was no established church for those of the Catholic faith in the Stanley// Hope River area, the settlers were with¬ out a church for a number of years. Members were expected to travel to South Rustico or to Park Corner to attend Permission was later granted to have a station at the house of Patrick Fleming on the Lower Road. In 1843, the parishioners started a church dedicated to St. Ann . The first church was built on land donated by Patrick Fleming . The land was located where the Pioneer Cemetery is today. The structure was of logs and its dimensions were 30 ft. square. Shortly after it was completed it blew down. A second church was built on the same site. This early church was served by Bishop Bernard MacDonald who said Mass in this church three times a year. A few years after its completion, it was moved to a more central and permanent site, approximately three miles distant, at St. Ann 's. It is believed that the second church later became St. Ann 's School. Around 1864 the second church was replaced by a frame building erected by the parishioners themselves. Although in use for ten years, it was never completed. Bishop Maclntyre wished to have it replaced with a stone edifice. An adjacent quarry would supply the stone. The stone project was never started because the parishioners felt that the stone was unsuitable. In 1875 another wooden church was built. It was in the Gothic style of architecture and mea¬ sured 75' by 40'. Shortly after the completion of the exterior in October 1875, the church was burned. Disheartening as this was, a new wooden church, similar in plan to the previous church, was built the next year. During this period the mission church of St. Ann 's was served by priests from South Rustico and Kinkora . In 1872 the mission was enlarged by the addition of one hundred families from Rustico . Rev. AJ . Trudelle, who was the first resident pastor, remained in St. Ann 's until 1881. In this year, the parish house, built in 1844, burned to the ground. Once again, St. Ann 's became a Mission of South Rustico . It is interesting to note that today St. Ann 's, a Parish, is being served by the pastor from North Rustico . The fifth church of 1876 was probably too small and the pastor, Fr. MacAulay, had the church torn down. It was replaced in 1911 with one of cement blocks, however this church was con¬ sidered a disaster because any attempts to waterproof it or to keep it warm were in vain. It was Romanesque in style and its size and location made it the dominant structure in the countryside. It was decided in the early 1950's to build a new church. This modern structure, which still stands, is built in the form of a cross. It has large windows at the end of the nave and transcepts with coloured glass. The side windows are made of tinted glass arranged to depict a cross in each window. The official opening and laying of the corner stone was held on September 11, 1955. The basement of the church has been finished to serve as a hall for various church activities. No doubt it is most famous for its St. Ann 's Lobster Suppers. Although a new parochial house was built in 1882, there was no resident pastor between 1881- 1888. The 1882 house was burned in 1901. The new parochial house lasted until 1946. It too 147