THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH OF THIS AREA

From the History of Methodism in Eastern British America by D.W. Johnson and the Outline of Methodism in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island printed by G. Herbert Hazard, 1888, we learn that Benjamin Chappell and his wife, Elizabeth, were the first Methodists to arrive on St. John’s Island. The Chappells with a large number of emigrants from London, England arrived on the north side of the Island, in the autumn of 1774. It is said that before coming here, Mr. Chappell was known to occasionally accompany Rev. John Wesley on his ministerial tours where they met with a few people each night to sing and pray.

Methodism is an offshoot of Anglicanism. The preachers were refused from the parish churches, so preachers took themselves to the open spaces, . highways, etc. and encouraged many to enter the Kingdom. Methodism brought the teachings of Christianity home to the common people. The Wesleys, Charles and John, made of the Saviour a great living personal force.

It is noted that the first visit by a Methodist minister to St. John’s Island was on October 23, 1783 when Rev. William Black, from Nova Scotia visited here for a fortnight.

Methodists were among the Loyalists who came to the Island from the United States during and after the American Revolution. About this time a Society Class was formed and hereby met at Benjamin Chappell’s home. In the spring of 1792, Rev. William Grandin, Methodist minister stationed in Nova Scotia also came for a visit.

From the Outline of The History of Methodism in Charlottetown, the names of Exhorts or Local preachers on the Island before 1807 appear as:

1774-1825 Benjamin Chappell 1794-1795 Joshua Newton 1801—1804 Thomas Dawson 1802—1803 Philip Marchington 1805-1806 Thomas Cowdell 1806—1814 Joseph Avard

Thomas Dawson was born in Coote Hill, Ireland in 1762 and he arrived in Charlottetown, June 6, 1801. He purchased land on the Head of Hillsborough. As a local preacher, guided by compass and blazed paths, Mr. Dawson took on the task of carrying the Wesleyan interpretation of

scripture to the Islanders in every settlement. As was the habit of circuit riders he had a hymn book and Bible in his saddle bag. Thomas Dawson died March 4, 1804 aged 42 years.

With an active interest in the work of the Church, Joseph Avard, an English Methodist preacher arrived in Charlottetown in 1806.

Up to 1804 the ministers in the Lower Provinces were sent from the United States, and were under the jurisdiction of the American Methodist Church. After that the Lower Provinces, plus Newfoundland were regarded missionary districts connected with the British Conference and were supplied ministers from the Old Country.

In 1855 all the districts in this British Conference became known as the Conference of Eastern British America. (Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island were one district.) In 1874 the Methodist Church of Canada was organized and connection to the British Conference ceased.

In 1807, Rev. James Bulpitt arrived as the Island’s first Methodist minister. He resided here until his death in 1849. Services were first held in Charlottetown at the Court House, comer of Queen and King Street. Later on the 5th of October, 1810 land was granted to the Wesleyan Methodist Society for the purpose of erecting a place to preach.

Murray Harbour is noted as the home of the first Methodist Church on the Island. It was opened by the Rev. Mr. Hick, soon after his arrival here in 1815. In 1819, during the preaching of Rev. Robert Alder, preaching places were erected at West River, Little York, Fullerton’s Marsh and Pownal.

PASTORAL RECORD

1817 Rev. J.B. Strong

1818 Rev. William Fishpool (Adam Clark Avard, enters the Wesleyan ministry as the first candidate from the Charlottetown area.)

1819 Rev. Robert Alder (reference of York as a part of Charlottetown Circuit)

1821 Rev. Stephen Bamford

1823 Rev. William Burt (During Mr Burt’s service a neat little church is built in York, dedicated in 1824. Prior to this the people had been meeting in private homes.)