TO GOD BE THE GLORY

The service of dedication for the new church, officially known as Summerside Presbyterian Church, was held March 19, 1865 with Rev. Robert S. Patterson of Bedeque, Rev. Dr. Isaac Murray, of Cavendish, and Rev. William R. Frame officiating. Rev. Mr. Frame had succeeded Rev. John MacLeod in 1862 as minister of the new Richmond Bay East Charge.

Summerside Presbyterian Church was constructed during the greatest missionary era of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Prince Edward Island was caught up in the missionary movement. The year before the first Summerside church was begun Rev. George Nicol Gordon of Alberton was martyred in Erromanga, New Hebrides. In 1872, the year following the creation of Summerside Presbyterian Charge, his brother Rev. James Douglas Gordon met a similar fate at Erromanga.

Famous Island pioneer missionary, Rev. John Geddie, preached to Summerside Presbyterians in 1865 while on furlough from missionary work in the South Pacific. Rev. Mr. Geddie, along with Rev. John Keir, had been the driving force behind the establishment of a foreign mission board of the Presbyterian Synod of Nova Scotia. His first charge had been at Cavendish and New London. In 1846 he became the first Presbyterian missionary from Canada and two years later reached the island of Aneityum in the New Hebrides where he would labour until 1872. His visit to Summerside was an inspirational one and helped in expanding church membership in the new place of worship.

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