preaching, converting and baptizing. He made many friends, and following his ordination in 1832 Elder Scott founded and became pastor of the Alexandra Baptist Church. He provided encouragement at a time when they were looking for financial assistance to build a meeting house. It was common practice for new churches to appeal to the Lieutenant Governor for limited funding, which was usually refused. In 1834, Lieutenant Governor Edmund Fanning had other funding on his mind, as he was building a beautiful and timeless residence he would call ”Fanningbank”, on a property he had personally selected, overlooking Charlotte Town harbour. It continues to house

the Province’s Lieutenant Governor . ‘ ‘ to this day, and is commonly known . a, M - 35 ’Government House’. Earlysketch ofFanningbank

In 1835, Elder Benjamin (GovernmentHouse) Victoria Park Scott began attending and PUb'i‘A’CMVMfPE' preaching at the Charlotte Town group meetings. Scott enjoyed the larger congregations, offering greater opportunity to convert people to Christ. In August of 1836, Rev. George MacDonald, visiting from the Nova Scotia Baptist Board of Sessions, came to Charlotte Town at the request of DesBrisay's Baptist group, to organize and initiate the Charlotte Town Baptist Church. The actual date of the first meeting has been lost in time, but Elder Benjamin Scott moved to town from Alexandra to become the new church's first pastor. Brother Thomas DesBrisay, one of its most ardent adherents, and the man who worked hard to create the original assembly of members, was duly appointed its first deacon. In historic notes it is always Rev. George MacDonald who is noted as starting the Charlotte Town Baptist Church, and he did, formally. However, it was really druggist Thomas DesBrisay who provided the encouragement and should be credited as the founder.

In the beginning there were only nine followers committed to membership in the new Charlotte Town Baptist Church.They are listed as Thomas DesBrisay, John Uhlman, William Bain, Christine C. Bagnall, James Caffray, Isaac Jackson, Jane Lallow, Nancy Reid and Isabella Mitchell. There were others who attended regularly but only these nine were baptized and formally accepted into membership. Benjamin Scott preached and administered the Lord’s Supper once a month, because he continued to share his time and services with other nearby established Baptist churches at Alexandra, Marshfield (also known as St. Peter’s Road), North River and Cavendish. When Elder Scott was not there, Deacon Thomas DesBrisay and visiting pastors would lead the service and preach.

Eighteen thirty-six would be the Baptist’s first year of being organized in Charlotte Town. At the same time, Anglicans were opening their second St. Paul’s, a new wooden church on the east side of Queen Square. It was replacing the small chapel beside it that had served the parish since 1800.

On Sabbath, March 28, 1837, the minutes of the service outline the fact that after preaching, Deacon DesBrisay spoke to the congregation and gave them four new rules that must be followed: