A LEGACY 0F FAITH

Chapter 5

A More Convenient Location

Without a doubt, the one solid pillar of the Charlottetown Baptist Church since it began in 1836 was its only deacon, Thomas DesBrisay. Thomas was really the ”father” of the church, because in 1835 it was he who encouraged some baptized believers to get together weekly for prayers and fellowship. This group evolved into the establishment of the Baptist Church. Thomas DesBrisay was a druggist and his "Apothecaries Hall” on the corner of Grafton and Queen (known as DesBrisay’s Corner) was the largest drug dispensing centre on the Island. Newspapers of the day were weeklies or bi-weeklies, and it was rare not to see a large ad, like this one in 1824, headed:

Public Archives of PEI

Thomas DesBrisay begs to acquaint his friends and the public that he has lately received, per ’The Carron’ from London, a quantity of drugs, medicines, chemicals and perfumery which he offers for sale on the most reasonable terms. He also has on hand snuffs and a few ladies fine straws and bonnets, which he will dispose of under prime cost.

Thomas DesBrisay had at least two sons, James and his brother Theophilus. Theophilus followed his father’s career as a druggist and eventually inherited ”Apothecaries Hall”.

ac . Y He was named after Grafton Street 'SunnySide’taken fiam Province House, (c. 1860) his grandfather, the

ApothecariesHaI/onleft. PublicArrhivesofPEl first rector of St. Paul’s

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