34 Succesxv on [/16 Edge

No matter what their ethnic background, all of the settler’s responded to Peter McIntyre’s energy and gift for organization. While his attitude towards his parishioners was that of a father to his family, as he said himself, it was a common one for priests at the time and no one seems to have resented it. His gifts and attitudes are best exemplified in his largest project, the construction of the present church, the pride of Tignish.

After less than twenty years, the parish was outgrowing its second church. There were nearly three hundred families. Furthermore, the settlement was steadily moving inland; the present church was no longer convenient for many parishioners. Peter McIntyre dreamed of a building that would be big enough for years to come, would not burn easily, would be equal to, or better than, any other in the Island diocese, and would give all the people of Tignish something in NhiCh they could take pride. It was a common dream among nineteenth-century priests, but nowhere Wis it better fulfilled than in Tignish.

First, he got the parishioners involved 1 1 his dream and ready to carry it out. Next he obtained a set Of plans from a New York architect, PC. Kielly, who specialized in ecclesiastical architecture. (Kielly himself nsVer visited Ti gnish, but sent an assistant to oversee the wink.) Then Peter McIntyre divided the men of the parish im) groupS, each to be in charge of providing part of the materials — clay for bricks, wood, and lime. An Irish hick—maker named Hughes opened a brickyard a few mies south of Tignish and provided the enormous number of bricks necessary for the new church. The women helped by making butter to sell or trade in lieu of cast. Only the slates for the roof, the stone trim, and the shined glass windows were imported.